Bofors Guns, which made us win 1999 Kargil war but rattled political scenario during the 80s

The most controvertial Bofors Hotwitzer 155 mm Swedish made Guns are today the favourite of all the governments n political parties which during the eighties literally shook the then government led by late Rajiv Gandhi and created a huge public outrage and furore inside as well as outside parliament.

I was therefore very keen n particular to have pictures with the one time most controvertial Swedish Bofors Gun when I visited the India gate lawns two weeks ago in a Defence exhibition organised to commemorate the second anniversary of the Surgical strikes across the border in Pakistani soil dismantling several terror launch pads in response to the deadly Uri attack in which about 19 of our valiant soldiers were martyred.

The Bofors ( Hotwitzer) Gun of Swedish make, as all of you know has a controvertial history in the Indian political context which rattled the political scenerio of the country during 1980s and also led to the change of the government of late Rajiv Gandhi including haunting the whole Gandhi family for several decades despite the fact the they were, including late prime minister Rajiv Gandhi exonerated/ acquitted of all charges but unfortunately was not alive to hear the good news.

This unambiguous acquittal of a sober and affable soft spoken leader also puts a huge question mark on all the journalistic findings as well as on the premier investigative agencies of the country who’ve allegedly spent a good amount of tax payers’ money on several foreign visits coupled with the expenses on protracted investigations.

And above all the political atmosphere of the country was vitiated on rumours, charges and counter charges including hundreds of hours of debates in parliament, public meetings, news coverages, debates and what not, finally the acquittal of the alleged accused.

Now, the same Bofors Guns which invited so much of public criticism and debate, amounting to change of governments are the best n outstanding weapons that led us to win the KARGIL WAR and is rated as one of the best defence deals.

That the same controversial Bofors howitzers will, one day, chart a new chapter by strengthening the Indian Army during the 1999 Kargil war and will lead to its victory by giving it “an edge”, nobody could have imagined it.

During India-Pakistan Kargil conflict, when the Indian army was going through a tough phase, then the Sweden-made Bofors weapons came to the rescue of the Indian soldiers.

On June 12th and June 13th, 1999 the Indian army had recaptured the Tololing hills range from the Pakistani intruders.
Pakistani intruders were targetting the Indian posts and logistics supplies, by hiding behind the Tololing range, so, winning there was a crucial moment for the Indian army.

They were trying to weaken the Indian army by targeting more and more jawans and also by attacking at the NH-1, to take control of the Tololing range.
Then the Indian army used Bofors guns to launch counter attacks at the Pakistani intruders and its troops and finally recaptured Tololing peak.

According to One India’s Richie Sharma
Bofors deployment during the Kargil war was one of the best steps taken by the Indian army.It can target the enemy upto the range of 42 kms and its barrel can move around till 70 degree angle.

Jai Hind.