Arunachal Pradesh Governor Brig (Retd) BD Mishra has greeted the people of the State and the nation as a whole on the occasion of 21st Vijay Diwas.
Governor Brig (Retd) BD Mishra said that the victory of the Indian Army in the 1971 India-Pakistan war will continue to inspire the youths of the country and promote national pride among the countrymen.
Vijay Diwas is commemorated every year on December 16 to observe the Indian armed forces’ triumph over Pakistan in the 1971 war that led to the liberation of Bangladesh from Pakistan.
India’s victory in the war also resulted in unilateral and unconditional surrender of the Pakistan Army and subsequent liberation of Bangladesh.
While saluting the bravery, courage and valour of the Indian soldiers, the Arunachal Pradesh Governor, who also took part in the war, said that the 1971 India-Pakistan War was a thrust on India, when Pakistan fighter jets bombarded 11 Indian Air Fields on December 03, 1971.
“This attack of Pakistan on India was preceded by unprecedented tyranny and genocide on the local population of erstwhile East Pakistan. This resulted in a mass exodus of the suffering Bengali population into India, which posed a great socio-economic strain and threat to Indian security and unity,” Mishra said.
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The Governor said these challenges compelled India to defend herself against the Pakistani onslaught and save the nation from extremely unfavourable fallouts.
“It was under these circumstances that India was forced to fight this war, which lasted for 13 days,” he said.
The Governor proudly recalled December 16, 1971 when the Pakistan Army surrendered before the Indian Armed Forces in erstwhile East Pakistan under the leadership of Field Marshal Manekshaw.
The entire Pakistani Army in erstwhile East Pakistan surrendered under General AA Khan Niazi, the commander of the Pakistani forces in East Pakistan.
Over 93,000 Pakistani trooper surrendered on December 16, 1971 before the Indian Army.
“On this glorious day, I join the people of the nation in paying our rich tribute to Indian soldiers who sacrificed their lives fulfilling the mission of the nation and defeating the enemy in its land during the 1971 war,” Governor Brig (Retd) BD Mishra said.