Our nation is safe in the hands of our soldiers, Kalam

Srinagar, July 28 (UNI) President A P J Abdul Kalam today lauded the security forces saying the nation is safe in their hands who are defending our frontier in the difficult environment and terrain at the highest altitude.

''They are giving the best part of their youth for the defence of the nation,'' Dr Kalam said during his address to joint session of the Jammu and Kashmir legislature at Sher-e-Kashmir International Convention hall on the bank of famed Dal Lake here this afternoon.

Recalling his visit to Siachen glacier on April 2, 2004, the President said he visited Kumar post, the highest post held by the Indian army on the Siachen glacier.

He said the post is located at 17,000 feet above sea level and at that time, it was snowing and the temperature was minus 35 degrees Centigrade.

''When I reached the field station, three soldiers--Naik from Karnataka, Williams from West Bengal and Salim from Uttar Pradesh--shook hands with me. As soon as they shook hand with me,'' it become Agni that transformed into warmth and penetrated into me, he said adding this warmth gave me the confidence that our nation is safe in the hands.

''Every time I visit Jammu and Kashmir, it brings to me the inherent strength of the state in the fields of spirituality unity, courage to face the problems and succeed, availability of technological competence in the area of agriculture and bio-diversity. He said he was inspired to see brave soldiers defending India's border at the high altitude.

UNI BAS AK BD2024