Tasaduq Hussain
LADAKH, June 20: Amid India-china border stand-off, the war volunteers from Ladakh Union Territory on Saturday said the killing of 20 Army men has dismayed them and are ready to render their services voluntarily to help the country to push back China to their territory.
The war veterans while talking to the news agency (KNO) also stated that the politicians have unfortunately maintained silence over the issue.
The war volunteers who took part in the Kargil war said the government should come up with some concrete steps to push back China. “Entire population will stand with Indian Army at every front like in the past,” they said.
The veterans said that they are ready to volunteer their services for Indian Army to help them to push back Chinese intruders who every year make attempts to capture their land and create worrying situations.
Mohammad Hussain, a war veteran who took part in the 1999 Kargil war to help Indian Army to push back Pakistan, said they are dismayed over the loss of lives of Army men. “The killing of our soldiers is highly unfortunate. The situation in Galwan Valley is not being witnessed for the first time but they (Chinese) are making such attempts every year to capture our land,” he said.
Hussain said he was part of the Kargil war and had successfully managed to push back Pakistan before it could capture their land. “We are well aware and used to the challenging conditions and it is not a cause of worry for us, if the escalation leads to some untoward incident. We would love to serve our Army and remain intact with them till the end,” he said.
About the killing of 20 Army men, Hussain said, “The news has really saddened us and all of us are ready to volunteer and serve the nation during the tough times since we are proud Indians and we belong to them.”
He further said the government should allow local scribes to visit the spot and cover the happenings there that according to him will help locals to get aware about the entire situation on the ground.
Barkut-ullah, another Kargil war veteran, said he has transported mortar bombs for the Army during the war. “We are Indians and we helped India from time to time. The news about the killing of our Army men has shell shocked the entire population,” he said.
Talking about the silence of the government, Barkut-ullah said that the politicians should at least respond that will help and encourage people to a greater extent.
“The amount of work done by people of Ladakh during the 1962 and 1999 Kargil war along with the Army is proof how patriotic people are and to what extent the locals can go to defend the integrity of the nation,” he added.
He urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take some concrete steps to push back China at an earliest.
Pertinently, 20 Army men were killed on Monday in violent face-off during de-escalation process at Galwan Valley and at least 76 injured soldiers were stated to be stable and undergoing treatment at different health centres.
In an all party meeting, the Prime Minister has said China has not captured an inch of Indian Territory.
