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Arunachal Pradesh is the nation's "sentinel of the east", and its people are patriotic and "jealously guarding the territorial integrity of the country", Chief Minister Nabam Tuki said today.
"Sitting in the lap of the Himalayas, we are the first to resist any force against India. If any enemy eyes India through north east, Arunachal Pradesh will stand against it first, like in the 1962 Sino-India war," he told the valedictory programme of the three-day 'Sarhad ko Swaranjali' here.
Lauding the defence personnel guarding the frontier in the state, Tuki said the programme would boost their morale to continue their duty of serving the motherland in the harshest condition along the Sino-India border.
The programme was necessary to infuse in the people the spirit of patriotism and contribute to the building of the nation, he said and expressed appreciation for the organisers 'Sanskar Bharati'.
A memorial would be constructed here by the state government to honour the martyrs of the 1962 Sino-India war, he said.
At least 100 veterans and families of martyrs of the 1962 Sino-India war hailing from Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Bihar, West Bengal and Assam participated in the programme.
Among those honoured on the occasion were Tagam Taki from Beging village in East Siang district who served as SSB constable and died on March 30, 2002 during an attack on Raghunath Mandir temple in Jammu, Kriti Chakra awardee Lance Naik Tape Yajo from Aalo and jawan Pate Tasuk from Kurung Kumey, both of whom died in action along the J&K border.
Leela Devi (92), mother of martyr Jaswant Singh Rawat, his relatives, and Lt Gen (Rtd) VM Patil, a captain posted in Tawang sector in 1962 were also present.
Rawat, who belonged to 4th Garhwal Rifles, had won the Maha Vir Chakra posthumously for his bravery and supreme sacrifice at the Battle of Nurangang in 1962. He was beheaded by the Chinese army, who later returned the head along with a brass bust for his gallantry.
