The Indian Army has installed a statue of Maratha warrior Chhatrapati Shivaji on the banks of Pangong Lake at an altitude of 14,300 feet. This area is near the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China in the eastern Ladakh sector. The Army’s Leh-based 14th Corps said the statue was unveiled to celebrate the Indian ruler’s “unbreakable spirit” as his legacy remains a source of inspiration.
The statue was unveiled on Thursday by Lieutenant General Hitesh Bhalla, General Officer Commanding of the 14th Corps, also known as ‘Fire and Fury Corps’. The Corps told on ‘X’ that this huge statue of bravery, foresight and steadfast justice was unveiled by Lieutenant General Hitesh Bhalla.
The unveiling of Shivaji’s statue comes weeks after India and China completed the withdrawal of troops from Demchok and Depsang, the two last flashpoints. Following the agreement reached on October 21, both sides completed the withdrawal of troops from the remaining two conflict sites.
The standoff on the eastern Ladakh border started on May 5, 2020, after violent clashes in the Pangong Lake area. After several talks at the military and diplomatic level, both sides completed the process of withdrawal of troops on the northern and southern banks of Pangong Lake in 2021. (also from input language)