New Delhi: "The Modi government has extinguished the Amar Jawan Jyoti that has been burning for years, it is an insult to the martyrs of the country. Saying this, former Congress President Rahul Gandhi and party national general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra are attacking the Central government. Along with Rahul-Priyanka, Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav has also hit out at the Modi government over the issue. Rahul tweeted yesterday, "It is a matter of great sorrow that the Amar Jawan Jyoti that used to burn for our brave soldiers will be extinguished today. Some people cannot understand patriotism and sacrifice. It doesn't matter. We will once again light the Amar Jawan Jyoti for our soldiers.''

बहुत दुख की बात है कि हमारे वीर जवानों के लिए जो अमर ज्योति जलती थी, उसे आज बुझा दिया जाएगा।

कुछ लोग देशप्रेम व बलिदान नहीं समझ सकते- कोई बात नहीं…
हम अपने सैनिकों के लिए अमर जवान ज्योति एक बार फिर जलाएँगे!

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) January 21, 2022

However, the point is that the Amar Jawan Jyoti has not been extinguished, but has been merged with the burning light at the National War Memorial. While opposition parties are opposing the central government's decision, the Modi government's decision has been warmly welcomed by ex-servicemen. The flame of Amar Jawan Jyoti was merged with the National War Memorial on Friday (January 21, 2022). During the function, Chief of Integrated Defence Staff Air Marshal Radha Krishna mixed the two flames of the brave sacrifices together. Describing the Modi government's decision as memorable, retired Lt Gen PJS Pannu said, "This is a very good decision taken by the government. There is no question of transfer, respect is where the names of the soldiers are written. The National War Memorial is the only place where soldiers should be honoured.''

#WATCH| "There should be no politics on the merger of Amar Jawan Jyoti & National War Memorial. It has become a trend to give a political angle to every initiative done by the Centre: 1971 war veteran and former Army Dy Chief Lt Gen JBS Yadava (Retd) pic.twitter.com/G2hlorvVfB

— ANI (@ANI) January 21, 2022

Retired Chief of Integrated Defence Staff Lt Gen Satish Dua also praised the government's decision and said there should be no controversy. He said, "India Gate was built to pay homage to the heroes who sacrificed their lives in World War I. We had not had the National War Memorial for centuries, so we were following it. After the 1971 war, Amar Jawan Jyoti was installed at India Gate in 1972. Now, it would be appropriate to merge Amar Jawan Jyoti with the National War Memorial. There should not be any dispute.''

#WATCH | This is a very good decision taken by the govt, shifting is not the question, the honour lies where the names of the soldiers are written. The National War Memorial is the only place the soldiers should be honoured: Lt. Gen (Retd) PJS Pannu pic.twitter.com/ZR2DPXzP05

— ANI (@ANI) January 21, 2022

"We did not have a war memorial, so India Gate was used," said JBS Yadav, deputy army chief (retd), who was the hero of the 1971 war. Now that we have the National War Memorial, it would be right that the Amar Jawan Jyoti should also be installed in the National War Memorial itself. He further said, "It has become a custom in the country that whenever a government does a good job, it is linked to politics. Why should we use a monument built by the British? Our nation has its own respect.''

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