PM Modi inaugurated the National War Memorial in Delhi

On Monday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the National War Memorial in the India Gate Complex, Delhi. It was built over 40 acres at a cost of Rs 176 crore. This design was selected through a global competition. The sanction for this project was issued on 18 December, 2015.

Modi lighting the 'Eternal Flame' positioned at the bottom of the stone-made obelisk,  signifying the souls of soliders who laid down their lives for the country.

The memorial design comprises four concentric circles namely the "Amar Chakra" (Circle of Immortality), the "Veerta Chakra" (Circle of Bravery), the "Tyag Chakra" (Circle of Sacrifice) and the "Rakshak Chakra" (Circle of Protection) has the names of 25,942 soldiers inscribed in golden letters on granite.

While addressing, PM Modi accused the congress government for putting family first and not nation first.PM Modi said, "Few people think their family interests come before the interests of the nation.. They had made the army and the national security means of earning for themselves. They wanted to forgot thw martyrs".

He wrote a message in visitor's book, "It is a symbol of our soldier's bravery, sacrifice and courage.. This memory will encourage us to live every moment and do something for the nation. My salute to this pilgrimage site of bravery and martyrdom".

Earlier, Amar Jawan Jothi built in 1972 under the India Gate arch, will remain the memory of fallen soldiers of the 1971 war. After independence there was no national memorial to commemorate the sacrifice of fallen soldiers. But this National War Memorial will pay tributes to soldiers who sacrificed their lives for the country.

India Gate is a war memorial built during the British raj as the All India War Memorial Arch to honour the soldiers who died in the First World War (1914-18) and the Third Anglo-Afghan War (1919). That landmark has the names of soldiers inscribed on its surface.