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New Delhi, Oct 11 (IANS) A mega Ex-Servicemen (ESM) Rally, “Devbhoomi Mega Veterans” was organized with great enthusiasm and patriotic fervor by Indian Army Headquarters Uttarakhand Sub Area on Saturday at Jaswant Singh Ground in Garhi Cantt, Dehradun.
The event saw the honorable presence of the Governor of Uttarakhand, Lieutenant General Gurmit Singh (Retd), and Chief of Defense Staff, General Anil Chauhan along with several other dignitaries and senior military officers.
In his keynote address, the Governor paid rich tributes to the veterans, calling them “national assets” and acknowledging their invaluable contribution to the nation.
Expressing grief over the recent natural disaster in Dharali, he assured that the state government stands in full solidarity with the affected families.
Appreciating the indomitable spirit and high morale of the Indian Army, the Governor highlighted the coordinated efforts of the Indian Army and civil administration which led to rapid restoration of normalcy in the affected areas and also appreciated the leadership of the Central Government and expressed confidence that Uttarakhand will emerge as a stronger and more disaster resistant State in the future.
The Governor expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the veterans of the Army, Navy and Air Force of Uttarakhand, praising their patriotism, courage and continuous commitment towards nation building. He paid tribute to all the martyrs who sacrificed their lives in the service of the country.
During the programme, the Governor appreciated the noble efforts of the War Wounded Foundation led by Lieutenant General Asit Mistry (Retd) and Brigadier Harcharan Singh (Retd) and acknowledged their contribution in providing motorized scooters to 14 disabled veterans.
He also honored 20 Veer Naris (war widows) and thanked them for their sacrifice and service. Congratulating the winners of the Veterans Achievers Award he encouraged them to continue their efforts for the welfare of veterans and the society at large.
He called upon all the veterans to become a source of inspiration for the society by becoming active contributors in building a “developed India”.
Addressing the gathering, CDS Anil Chauhan appreciated the role of veterans in nation building.
He said that Uttarakhand, known as the “land of heroes”, has always made the country proud with the courage and bravery of its soldiers in every conflict and crisis.
He emphasized that the Indian Armed Forces are increasingly adopting modern warfare strategies and cutting-edge technologies. Emphasizing India’s peaceful intentions, he said, “Although we are a peace-loving nation, we will never tolerate any threat to our sovereignty.”
Over 5,000 veterans participated in the rally, which included a job fair by 21 companies, banking and government scheme awareness stalls and free medical camps for the benefit of ex-servicemen and their families.
–IANS
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