Rajnath Singh arrives in Leh to inaugurate revamped war memorial at Rezang La
Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh arrived in Leh on Thursday to inaugurate a newly revamped war memorial in Ladakh’s Rezang La, where names of soldiers who died in the June 2020 Galwan Valley clash with the Chinese PLA have also been added.
Sources said Singh is likely to have a meeting with officials of the armed forces at Leh to take stock of the border situation. Singh’s visit assumes significance as China recently appeared to have toughened its stance on border negotiations. The last Corps Commander level meeting between the two sides could not make any progress on disengagement of troops.
The memorial was first raised at Chushul in Ladakh in memory of soldiers who died in the battle of Rezang La during the 1962 war. In this battle, a company of 13 Kumaon battalion fought to the last man to block PLA from crossing the ridge into Chushul Valley.
In the ongoing standoff in Eastern Ladakh, Rezang La again became a flashpoint when in August-September last year Indian troops took over key heights overlooking Chinese military posts. The preemptive action forced China to come to the negotiating table and disengagement of troops was achieved on both banks of Pangong Tso this year.
