Lalit Mohan

Tribune News Service

Dharamsala, July 26

As the Kargil martyrs were remembered on Thursday on Kargil Vijay Diwas, NK Kalia, father of Saurabh Kalia who is a martyr from Palampur, is still awaiting justice for his son.Kalia said there was no difference between the UPA and NDA government. Both had failed to do justice to the martyrs, who were subjected to inhuman treatment by the Pakistan army during the Kargil war in 1999.“Though Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced in a rally at Palampur that if the NDA government was voted to power, it will do justice to the family of Saurabh Kalia and take up the issue at the highest level, nothing has been done”, he added.Kalia said his petition before the Supreme Court was pending and he had faith in the judicial system. “I will get justice from the court and continue fight for the cause of the martyrs till the end,” he said. He regretted that he had approached the Government of India and several national and international organisations to pressure the Pakistan government to identify, book and punish those who tortured my son.”Kalia said he was disappointed with the attitude of the governments who ruled the nation as none initiate efforts to take up the issue with Pakistan during the bilateral talks held several times.“Though 19 years have passed, my wounds are yet to be healed. Not only parents of the soldiers, but also the Army and the nation had lost dedicated and honest soldiers,” said he. Saurabh Kalia and others were captured by the Pakistan army on May 15, 1999, after which they were tortured brutally to death. Their mutilated bodies were sent back to India in June. The martyr sacrificed his life at the age of 22. Meanwhile, the Army paid tribute to the Kargil martyrs at the War Memorial in Dharamsala. Minister for Food and Civil Supplies Kishan Kapoor was also present.