Martyrs family leave for Kargil

Jammu, July 16 (UNI) The first batch of 700 people, including 60 families of 1999 Kargil martyrs and over 500 hundres religious scholars from different parts of the country, today left for Kargil where they take part in the 'sarvdharma mahayagna' to be held from July 18 to 26.

Talking to media persons before leaving, Swami Balak Yogeshwar Das of 'Ati Vishnu Mahayagna Samiti' said, it would be honour for those who participated in the 'Kargil War' that saw India wrest control of the mountain heights from Pakistan.

Swami Balak Yogeshwar said more than 500 family members of Kargil martyrs would organise a nine-day 'sarva dharma prarthana' at Drass in Kargil to mark the 7th anniversary of Vijay Diwas.

The whole idea is to make Drass (Kargil) a living 'teerth sthal' (pilgimage site) for the youth to take inspiration from the martyrs, who sacrified their life for the country, he added.

The swami apealled to all citizens to light candle in memory of our martyrs on July 26. The move was to spread peace among all communities and people in the region, he added.

''Prayers to be organised with the help of civil adminstration and the Army, whose annual afforts to commemorate the occasion we were trying to supplement through this token gesture,'' he said.

First batch comprising 700 people including 60 martyrs familiy members, and 500 priest from Kashi and 50 sikh priest from Punjab has left today at 800 hrs today.

UNI HGV RA PC2048