Govt committed to welfare of ex-servicemen: Rajnath Singh

New Delhi [India], January 14 : Eighth Armed Forces Veterans' Day was celebrated on Sunday at multiple locations in India to pay respects to the ex-servicemen for their selfless duty and sacrifices and reinforce solidarity towards the Next of Kin of these bravehearts.
"8th Armed Forces Veterans' Day is being celebrated on January 14, 2024, at multiple locations pan India to pay respects to the ex-servicemen for their selfless duty & sacrifices and reinforce solidarity towards the Next of Kin of these bravehearts. Wreath-laying ceremonies and Veterans' Rallies are being organised in Srinagar, Pathankot, Delhi, Kanpur, Alwar, Jodhpur, Guwahati, Mumbai, Secunderabad, Kochi and several other places to mark the day," as per a Ministry of Defence press release.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh led the celebrations by addressing a veterans' rally at Air Force Station, Kanpur. Around 1,000 ex-servicemen attended the event. The Defence Minister interacted with them and expressed heartfelt gratitude to the heroes for their selfless service to the motherland. He emphasised that the veterans hold a special place in the heart of every Indian.
"Our soldiers rise above family, caste & creed and only think about the nation. They effectively carry out their duties as they know for a fact that if the nation is secure, everything is safe. This gives them the moral strength to face every challenge," he added.
Rajnath Singh reasserted the unwavering commitment of Ministry of Defence towards the welfare of ex-servicemen, stating that from implementing the One Rank One Pension scheme to providing health care and re-employment, the Government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been leaving no stone unturned to ensure the well-being of the veterans.
He added that while the Government is making more efforts as the nation is progressing, it is also a collective responsibility of the people to treat the soldiers & their dependents as their own family and ensure that they stand with them always. He appealed to the people to further strengthen their will to honour the retired as well as the serving soldiers.
The Defence Minister pointed out that the bravery, integrity, professional and humanity of the Indian soldiers is respected and recognised not just by the whole country, but by the entire world.
"The bravery of our soldiers who fought in the First and Second World Wars are remembered with respect across the globe. We, Indians, too not only respect our own soldiers, but also those of other countries. In this 1971 war, more than 90,000 soldiers of Pakistan surrendered to India. We could have treated them in any way we wanted; but such is our culture and tradition that we adopted a completely humanitarian attitude and sent them back to their country with full respect. Such treatment to enemy soldiers is one of the golden chapters of humanity," he said.
"On the occasion, the Defence Minister laid a wreath at the War Memorial and paid homage to the heroes for their supreme sacrifice and dedicated service. Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, Air Officer Commanding in Chief, Maintenance Command Air Marshal Vibhas Pande and Air Officer Commanding, Air Force Station, Kanpur Air Commodore MK Praveen were among the dignitaries present on the occasion," as per the release.
Armed Forces Veterans' Day is celebrated on 14th January every year to recognise the service rendered by the First Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Field Marshal KM Cariappa, who retired on this day in 1953. The day was first celebrated in 2016 and it is commemorated every year since by hosting such interactive events in the honour of the Ex-Servicemen.