 "File photo of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. (Photo: Reuters)")
At a time when Prime Minister Narendra Modi is facing milking 'Velor of soldiers' he will unveil a 'Shourya Smarak' (War Memorial) in Bhopal on Friday. He will be accompanied by chiefs of the three defence services.
The memorial is in proximity of state secretariat and covers an area of 12 acres. A 62-feet pillar has been erected to depict life of a soldier. The memorial also has a traditional lamp to pay reverences to those soldiers who laid their lives for the nation. " Names of soldiers from Madhya Pradesh who sacrificed their lives in line of duty has been inscribed on the pillar.
The memorial is an effort of the state government to motivate youngsters to join Indian army," a government official said.
A son-et-lumiere (light and sound show) will also be there later to narrate stories of valour of the soldiers. Modi will also felicitate some ex-servicemen and address a convention of them at a separate venue at Lal Parade Ground. "The prime minister will also meet few families of fallen soldiers," State chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has said.
Chouhan had expressed his desire to build a memorial to army chief general Deepak Kapoor who visited the town in 2008. Chouhan had often said that he was dismayed to learn that the country does not have any war memorial to remember those several jawans who laid their lives defending borders. Chouhan pointed out that Delhi has India gate but it was constructed to pay reverence to those who participated in world War I. "Also it was constructed before independence," he said, "This would be first in the country to pay homage to martyrs post-Independence." The memorial is constructed with an investment of Rs 14 crore.
