Port Blair, June 29: Twenty brave Indian soldiers, including one Commanding Officer of the Indian Army were killed at Galwan border clash with China on the night of June 15/16 June, 2020. However, the Govt. of India has so far not come up with a proper clarification on this issue, said the Pradesh Congress Committee Spokesperson in a press conference held on Saturday. In order to pay tributes to the brave hearts and also to highlight the important issues before the nation, the Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) on the directions of the Congress Working Committee (CWC) had decided to organize various programmes.  Accordingly, two important programmes on important issues have been chalked out to highlight before the nation. As part of the CWC decisions, the Andaman and Nicobar Pradesh Congress Committee (ANPCC) have also decided to organize the same. 

Homage to Martyrs: To pay homage to the 20 brave Indian soldiers who lost their lives at Galwan valley in June 15/16 June 2020, the Congress party observed “Shaheedon Ko Salam Divas at Tringa Park on Friday (26th June, 2020) at 4.30 pm. Through this programme, the party leaders, workers and supporters paid floral tributes to Col. B. Santosh Babu and twenty of our brave soldiers of the 16 Bihar Regiment for their  supreme sacrifice and reiterated our unwavering solidarity to our Armed Forces across the country. To mark the occasion, senior party leaders and workers, along with the members of the public sat at Tringa Park and paid homage to the Martyrdom of our brave soldiers in Ladkah. Candles and lamps were lit up as marks of tributes, carrying along with placards saluting our Jawans. On this occasion, party leaders and workers demanded from the Govt. to take back our land from the occupation of the Chinese forces.

The one-hour programme was without any slogan shouting and following social distancing protocols issued by the authorities. This press conference is part of the programme and in remembrance of the supreme sacrifice of our brave soldiers. This is also an occasion to highlight the failures of the Central Government in protecting our border.

Dharna on unprecedented rise in Petrol & Diesel Prices: As you all know, there is a wider shock and concern among the citizens of the nation over the repeated and unjust increases in petrol and diesel prices as also excise duty over the last three months of the lockdown. The extortionate increases have been inflicted on the people by the Central Government at a time when they are facing unprecedented economic challenges on account of the Covid-19 pandemic. The Central Government is profiteering by fleecing the people of India. To protest against this sheer exploitation at a time when the international crude oil price is at lowest in decades, the party has decided to launch nationwide massive protests across the country. In the past few months, prices of petrol and diesel have increased many times by the central Government On 29th June 2020, the PCC will organize a two hours Dharna across the A&N Islands from 10.00 am to 12.00 pm to highlight the unprecedented rise in petrol-diesel prices. This will be strictly followed by the social distancing protocols issued by the relevant authorities.