Chandigarh, July 26 -- Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Sunday praised the valour of the armed forces on Kargil Vijay Diwas and said the soldiers are always ready to protect the country.

The Chief Minister referred to his days as an artiste and said they contributed to the welfare of the ex-servicemen.

"July 26 is celebrated as Kargil Vijay Diwas. Our history of sacrifices is immense. Today, we paid tribute to the immortal martyrs by remembering them. I also worked as an artiste, and through one of my shows, we donated the entire collection to the Army. I salute the martyrs. Whether it is the biting cold of minus 50 degrees or the scorching heat of plus 50 degrees, our soldiers are always ready to protect us," he told reporters. ...