A Call to Patriots
The sudden undeclared war imposed on us by a conniving neighbour has found our armed forces rising to their valiant best. Against heavy odds, our men are fighting their way forward inch by bloody inch. They are battling to save the honour and pride of our motherland.
Many of them have already paid the ultimate price. Many more will. Yet more will be maimed and otherwise handicapped for life. Each felled soldier means an aged parent or a young widow or an orphaned child, often all of these. The martyrs died to secure peace for us. It is our duty to help the families they left behind.
As stories of great valour and great sacrifice come to us from the front, the governments at the Centre and in the states are coming up with financial assistance to the bereaved families. Ordinary citizens are also keen to contribute their mite. Indeed, this is the least we can do even as we take pride in the patriotism and fighting acumen of our jawans.
In order to provide a practical platform for the public to show their support to the solders. The New Indian Express is setting up a Kargil Victims Relief Trust. This is being registered as a charity eligible for tax shelter under Section 80G of the IT Act, 1961.
We are setting up the Trust Fund with an initial contribution of Rs. 1 Lakh. We appeal to all our readers and the general public to come forward adn contribute liberally to this Fund. Cash donations or cheques drawn in favour of the Kargil Victims Relief Trust may be sent to Chief Manager, Finance & Accounts, Express Publications (Madurai) Ltd., Express Estates, Club House Road, Chennai-600 002, Tamilnadu, India. Contributions above Rs. 1000 will be acknolwedged in The New Indian ExpressEvery citizen must salute our brave soldiers and show the nation's gratitude to them. We must do the best we can to ease the grief of the wives, the parents, the children and other dependents who have suffered irreparable losses.
Kargil is a national Yagna. Participate in it. Contribute to the victims' relief.
Manoj Kumar Sonthalia
Chairman cum Managing DirectorCheques/drafts should be drawn in favour of `Kargil Victims Relief Trust' and sent to
Chief Manager Finance & A/c
Express Publications (Madurai) Ltd., Express Estates, Club House Road, Chennai-600 002, Tamilnadu, India