IN GURGAON: Hooda inaugurates Rezangla War Memorial

Jalandhar, December 29, 2012: Haryana Chief Minister, Bhupinder Singh Hooda  inaugurated Rezangla War Memorial in Gurgaon today.  

State Government has built this memorial to keep alive the memories of those 114 martyrs, who sacrificed their lives, while safeguarding the 18,000 ft. high Rezangla post during Indo- China war in 1962. 

Hooda said that last year he had laid down its foundation and promised to inaugurate it during the golden jubilee year 2012 of Rezangla war. Our jawans and officers bravely fought the battle under Major Shaitan Singh and pushed back the enemy forces, who wanted to control this post, so that they could capture Ladakh easily.   

He said that this memorial will inspire new generation to imbibe the spirit of patriotism and fulfill the dreams of our martyrs. The nation, which does not remember its martyrs cannot move forward, he said.  Today we are living in peace, because our jawans are safeguarding country’s borders, braving extreme weather conditions. We owe a lot to them for our freedom.

The Haryana CM said that it is a matter of pride for us that in-spite of the fact that the population of Haryana is less than two per cent of the country’s population, but every 10th jawan in the army is from Haryana. State government is doing everything for the ex-servicemen and their families, but it is the duty of the society also to take care of their families, he said. 

Referring to the demands of Rezangla Shaheed Samarak Samiti, put forth by its president Dr T.C. Rao, he announced that the school in Dundhahera village will be named after Shaheed Bharat Singh. The road from Razangla Chowk to Railway Station will be named as Rezangla Marg. The maintenance of the memorial will also be done by  Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA). Carterpuri village will also get a basket ball ground and John Hall will be named as Freedom Fighter Hall. A similar Shaheed Samarak will be built by HUDA in Rewari also. He also announced that a Gymkhana Club will be set up in this area.  

Haryana Minister Capt. Ajay Singh Yadav and Sukhbir Kataria, Gurgaon MP Rao Inderjeet Singh, CPS Rao Dan Singh, MLA Rao Dharampal, Ex- Chief-of-Army-Staff General V.K. Singh, 96 years old Colonel H.S. Dhingra, Ex- General Vij, Ex- Air Chief Marshall S.K. Tyagi, Ex-DG A.S. Bhatotia, Major Ved Parkash, besides a number of other Ex-army officers, Freedom fighters and war widows of the area were present on this occasion. 

Haryana Power Minister Capt. Ajay Singh Yadav said that state government has done a praise-worthy job by building a memorial of 114  martyrs, who sacrificed their lives to protect Rezangla post in 1962 war with China.  He said that state government has enhanced the cash incentives for gallantry award winners. The cash incentive for the recipients of Paramvir Chakra and Ashok Chakra has been increased from Rs. 25 lakh to Rs. 31 lakh and that of Mahavir Chakra and Kirti Chakra from Rs. 15 lakh to Rs.21 lakh. 

Haryana Sports Minister, Sukhbir Kataria said that martyrs do not have any caste or religion, except their country. It is our duty that we should give them full honour and take care of their families. 

Gurgaon MP, Rao Inderjeet Singh also paid tributes to the Rezangla martyrs and said that Rezangla battle fought during Indo-China war of 1962 is one of the glorious battles in the history of India, in which the soldiers fought with the motto of ‘last bullet-last man’. “I am sure that in future also soldiers from Haryana would show same level of valour and bring name to the state and the country”, he said.

Haryana Chief Parliamentary Secretary, Rao Dan Singh said that Rezangla martyrs had limited resources and old fashioned weapons, but they fought bravely and saved the Rezangla post from going into the hands of enemy. 

MLA of Badshahpur, Rao Dharampal appreciated the hard work done by the officers of HUDA in accomplishing the work of memorial.  A sum of about Rs. 1.5 crore has been spent on the construction of memorial, he said. He also urged that boundary wall should be constructed around this memorial. 

96 years old Colonel H.S. Dhingra, who could hardly walk, was brought to the function by his daughter Sunita.

Recalling the memories of Rezangla battle,  Col. Dhingra said that he was commanding officer of the 13 Kumaun regiment, whose Charlie company was posted at Rezangla in 1962. The jawans of the company bravely fought the battle under Major Shaitan Singh and succeeded in pushing back the enemy forces. 

On this occasion, the Chief Minister also honoured the freedom fighters and war widows by the giving them mementos.

Hooda also released a souvenir ‘Bravest of the Brave’. 

Earlier, welcoming the Chief Minister the president of Rezangla Shaheed Samarak Samiti Dr T.C. Rao said that it is a matter of pride for Haryana that  40  per cent of the martyrs are from this state. Not only in the battle field, but in the field of sports also youth of Haryana have excelled and brought laurels to the country by winning medals in international events.  

A cheque of Rs. 1.11 lakh was given to the Chief Patron of Rezangla Shaheed Samarak Samiti Capt. Ajay Singh Yadav on behalf of Sainik Welfare Organisation of Lt. Col. Rakesh Rana.