Chennai: Edappadi K Palaniswami yesterday in a letter urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to honour Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman with Param Vir Chakra.
Param Vir Chakra is the country’s highest military honour and is awarded for most conspicuous bravery or some daring or pre-eminent act of valour or self-sacrifice. In his letter, the Tamilnadu Chief Minister said, “Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman displayed amazing poise and confidence in the face of adverse conditions, which has won him many hearts across the country. It is appropriate that he be awarded India’s highest military honour Param Vir Chakra (PVC) for displaying most inimitable gallantry and valour.”
He also noted that the IAF pilot, who is a native of Tamilnadu, was released by Pakistan due to the diplomatic initiatives of the Prime Minister and intense international pressure.
Varthaman was captured by Pakistan after a dogfight in the skies on 27 February. He was returned home on 1 March after Pakistan Prime Minster Imran Khan announced he would be released as a gesture of peace.