Param Vir Chakra (PVC) recipient Manoj Kumar Pandey’s mural may soon find place in the Rashtrapati Bhawan.
During his visit to New Delhi next week, governor Ram Naik is likely to urge the President Pranab Mukherjee to erect a mural of the martyr on the Bhawan premises to give a befitting tribute to the braveheart who had laid down his life in service of the nation during Kargil War.
Speaking at a programme organised during the unveiling of murals of three posthumous PVC recipients — Manoj Pandey, Abdul Hameed and Naik Jadunath Singh — at Central Command War Memorial ‘ Smritika’ here on Monday morning, Naik assured: “Since Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union defence minister Manohar Parikkar both represent Uttar Pradesh, they will take interest in the installation of the murals of the PVC recipient in the Rashtrapati Bhawan.”
“I will also approach the President, the chief of all forces, to erect grand murals of all the other 20 PVC awardees, as a mark of respect,” he said, after unveiling the mural of Abdul Hameed. Lieutenant general Rajan Bakhshi and lieutenant general GS Shergill unveiled the murals of Naik Jadunath Singh and Manoj Pandey respectively.
Earlier, Naik paid floral tributes to the martyrs at the war memorial on the occasion. He also felicitated martyr Abdul Hameed’s wife Rasoolan Bibi, Manoj Pandey’s father Gopi Chand and Naik Jadunath Singh’s nephew Netrapal Singh on the occasion.
{{/usCountry}}Earlier, Naik paid floral tributes to the martyrs at the war memorial on the occasion. He also felicitated martyr Abdul Hameed’s wife Rasoolan Bibi, Manoj Pandey’s father Gopi Chand and Naik Jadunath Singh’s nephew Netrapal Singh on the occasion.
{{/usCountry}}Praising army personnel for their contribution to the country, the governor said: “Being a soldier is the toughest thing. Unlike other jobs they have to remain on their toes round-the-clock.”
Recollecting his experiences of the Kargil War, Naik said: “At that time I was the petroleum minister. As a mark of respect for the martyrs I asked the defense minister that he will at once allot the petrol pumps and gas agencies to all the martyrs.”
On the occasion, lieutenant general Rajan Bakhshi, UYSM, Army Commander, Central Command, thanked the governor and also chief minister Akhilesh Yadav for extending support in erecting the beautiful bronze murals. “I am thankful to them as it is only because of them these murals came into existence. I also thank the family members of the martyrs, who came down to Lucknow to attend the programme despite the chilly weather.”