New Delhi, July 14 (IANS As part of the nationwide observance of Kargil Vijay Diwas 2026, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday flagged off the 13-day ‘Shaurya Vijay Yatra’, a commemorative motorcycle expedition, from the National War Memorial in Delhi to the Kargil War Memorial in Dras, Ladakh.

Singh said the 1999 Kargil war victory represents India’s enduring resolve to respond with full might to any hostile gaze upon the country’s land, identity and honour. He said at an altitude of nearly 20,000 feet and temperatures plummeting to minus 40 degrees Celsius, the soldiers achieved their objectives with courage and resilience. They reclaimed every peak, hill and bunker from enemy control and upheld the honour of the Tricolour.

The expedition will witness 28 riders, including serving and retired defence forces personnel, and their family members, cover 1,900 kilometres while traversing through the demanding terrain of the northern Himalayas to honour the courage, resolve and sacrifice of the Indian bravehearts who ensured victory in the 1999 Kargil War. The motto of the expedition is ‘One Ride, One Nation, One Salute’.

En route, the riders will pay homage at prominent military memorials, including the Chandimandir War Memorial, Rezang La War Memorial and Leh War Memorial, said the statement.

They will also interact with and felicitate Veer Naris, recognising their courage and resilience. The expedition will culminate at the Kargil War Memorial on Kargil Vijay Diwas on July 26, it said.

During the expedition, riders will carry an urn containing the National War Memorial’s sacred soil, which will be offered at Kargil in the memory of the fallen heroes.

Singh said when the soil from here unites with the one in Kargil, it would symbolise the confluence of the reverence of the nation’s current generation and the valour of the nation’s heroes.

Chief of Defence Staff General N.S. Raja Subramani, Chief of the Army Staff General Dhiraj Seth, and other senior officials were present on the occasion, the statement said.

The Shaurya Vijay Yatra reflects the Indian Army’s commitment to carrying forward the values exemplified during Operation Vijay. By retracing this journey of courage, the expedition seeks to inspire future generations to uphold duty, honour and selfless service, said the statement.

–IANS

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