A lesson Modi learnt from Kargil: 'Opposition won't hesitate to politicise even national security'

NEW DELHI: As PM Narendra Modi visited the Kargil war memorial in Drass on Friday, the Modi Archives account on X shared a thread reminiscing about him, then BJP general secretary and in-charge of Himachal, visiting soldiers during the war 25 years ago.

In the thread, 'A Pilgrimage of a Lifetime - Narendra Modi's Lessons from the Kargil War Front 25 Years Ago', the PM said he "learned a crucial lesson from Kargil - that the opposition won't hesitate to politicise even national security".

"Then, as now, those questioning our armed forces put their petty politics over national interest. Back then, BJP was in power, and opposition parties like Congress and Left showed their true colours by calling for a special Rajya Sabha session during the middle of the Kargil war only to criticise the armed forces," Modi said. The post claimed Congress back then refused to criticise "an adversary nation".

Modi also questioned Sonia Gandhi's silence on Pakistan. He recalled how Atal Bihari Vajpayee, despite being in the opposition, fully supported Indira Gandhi during the 1971 war, "displaying a spirit of true national unity". "In stark contrast, Sonia Gandhi's silence during the Kargil conflict was concerning and raised doubts, a silence which continues even now, 25 years later," he said.

Tasked with overseeing work in Himachal Pradesh 25 years ago, Modi boarded an Mi-17 helicopter laden with essential supplies for soldiers while the war was raging. Modi and his team landed in Srinagar amid continuous shelling by the Pakistani army.

Modi had many chances to speak with the soldiers. During their conversations, he thanked them for their courage, but they insisted that the credit should go to then PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

Modi said he was surprised that the soldiers attributed the victory to the nation's leader. A soldier explained that despite several attempts to capture Tiger Hill, the Indian Army was unable to achieve success. But while listening to the radio in their bunker one evening, they heard that then US president Bill Clinton had invited Vajpayee to the US but the latter declined, saying his soldiers were on the battlefield and he had no time for a visit.

This refusal inspired the soldiers, Modi said. Motivated by their PM's commitment, they fought with renewed vigour that very night, and achieved victory. "For Narendra Modi, it showed how strong political will and leadership can inspire soldiers to be brave and make great sacrifices," the post said.