Jammu: Jammu and Kashmir BJP vice president and former minister Sham Lal Sharma on Tuesday demanded renaming the Srinagar airport in the name of Major Somnath Sharma, the first Param Vir Chakra awardee who died fighting Pakistani tribesmen in 1947.
Some years ago the coalition government led by PDP had mooted the proposal of re-christening the Srinagar airport after Sheikh Noor-ud-din Wali, the patron saint of Kashmir also known as Sheikh-ul-Alam. However the central government has so far refused to accept the decision.
“Due to the martyrdom of Major Somnath Sharma, Kashmir is with India today. We appeal to the Lieutenant Governor to name Kashmir Airport after his name,” the BJP leader said while paying tributes to the Major on his 73rd death anniversary in a programme organised by Shri Kailakh Jyotish Avim Vedic Sansthan Trust.
Major Somnath was awarded Param Vir Chakra, the highest military honour in India, in 1950.
Sham Lal also demanded that January 31, which is the birth anniversary date of Major Somnath, be declared as a state holiday and installation of his statue in the Jammu city.
Major Somnath was born on January 31, 1923, in Himachal Pradesh. He was the Company Commander of the Delta Company of the 4th Battalion of Kumaon Regiment of the Indian Army.
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