Mumbai: Images of former prime ministers visiting India-China border and mingling with Indian Army have resurfaced as Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a surprise move landed for a day-long visit in Leh, Ladakh Friday.
PM Modi's surprise visit to Ladakh came amidst tension between India and China after the latter intruded into the Galwan Valley on the Indian side of the LAC.
In the face-off that followed, as many as 20 Indian soldiers were killed and a number of others were injured.
In Ladakh, Prime Minister Modi hailed the Indian soldiers who laid down their lives for the country and also visited the injured soldiers recovering in the hospital.
Past to present...... pic.twitter.com/yBQ1njj0xR— ASHUTOSH MISHRA (@JournoAshutosh) July 3, 2020
Past to present...... pic.twitter.com/yBQ1njj0xR
As the photos of Prime Minister Modi landing in Ladakh and addressing the India soldiers went viral on Twitter and other social media platforms, equally interesting photos of former Indian prime ministers visiting the border, and mingling with the soliders and addressing them were also widely shared.
In one such photo Independent India's first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru is seen sitting with Indian soldiers.
PM Modi and other RSS and BJP leaders accuse Nehru of surrendering to China in 1962 war. In the similar manner, Congress and other secularists are now accusing Modi of surrendering to China.
In yet another image shared by journalist Ashutosh Mishra, former prime minister Indira Gandhi is seen addressing the soldiers during a visit to Ladakh in 1971.
In other images, former prime ministers Lal Bahadur Shastri and Manmohan Singh are seen with the Indian Armed Forces.
Former Defence Minister A.K. Antony on Friday made light of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to forward areas in Ladakh and said that "it is common for Indian PMs to visit forward areas" as it gives a tremendous boost to the defence forces.
"Today's visit to Leh by Modi is a good one. He met the injured soldiers. But if one looks back, then Prime Ministers Jawaharlal Nehru, Lal Bahadur Shastri and Indira Gandhi visited areas of (border) friction over a dozen times and one needs to see it (Modi visit) in the same way," the senior Congress leader remarked.
Antony has held the Defence Minister's post for a record tenure from 2006 to 2014 in both the UPA governments at the Centre.
"In 1971, Indira Gandhi along with the then Defence Minister visited the same place which Modi visited on Friday. Visits like these will be a huge morale booster for all in the defence forces," said Antony.
He said that China has since made huge advancements into areas which they never ever did in the past, like in the Galwan Valley.
"The need of the hour is for a status quo ante; China should go back and if it does not they should be ousted from there," Antony remarked.
For all the latest News, Opinions and Views, download ummid.com App.
Select Language To Read in Urdu, Hindi, Marathi or Arabic.
2020 NEET and JEE Main to be Postponed or Not: Decision Today
Also Read
Students in India want NEET 2020 on July 26, those in Gulf want it postponed
Now students urge govt to postpone JEE, NEET
PM Modi visits forward location in Ladakh amid tension with China
"Ladakhis say": Rahul Gandhi on LAC situation as Modi lands in Leh
OBC Quota in Medical Seats: TN wants SC to intervene on PILs in Madras HC
Ahead of Eid al-Adha, now campaign in UP to 'save' goats
China forcing birth control on Uyghur Muslims to suppress population
Sushant's family launches #Nepometer, rates 'Sadak 2' as 98% Nepotistic!
Nepotism Kills? No Way
World Corona cases top 10.6mn, Check the list of worst hit countries
Iran COVID-19 Update: Over 2.5K new cases, tough restrictions back in 8 provinces
Visually impaired Haroon Kareem scores A+ in Kerala SSLC 2020 Exams
Kerala SSLC 2020 declared; Pathanamthitta Top District, 41,906 students got A Plus Grade
Tamil Nadu Covid-19 Update: Over 3.8K cases today take state tally to 94K
Kerala adds 151 new Corona patients, state tally nears 4.6K
What about Chinese phones? Experts ask after App ban
India bans 59 Chinese Apps, Here is the full list