Kejriwal pays tribute to PVC awardee Flying Officer Sekhon
Synopsis
AAP convenor Arvind Kejriwal marked the birth anniversary of Flying Officer Nirmaljit Singh Sekhon, the only IAF officer to receive the Param Vir Chakra, honouring his sacrifice in the 1971 Indo-Pakistani War and calling him an inspiration for every Indian.
Key Takeaways
Arvind Kejriwal posted a birth-anniversary tribute to Flying Officer Nirmaljit Singh Sekhon on 17 July 2026 .
Sekhon is the only Indian Air Force officer to have been awarded the Param Vir Chakra , India's highest wartime gallantry honour.
He was honoured posthumously for single-handedly defending the Srinagar airfield against Pakistani F-86 Sabre jets on 14 December 1971 .
The Param Vir Chakra was instituted by the Government of India in 1950 .
Kejriwal described Sekhon's bravery, patriotism and sacrifice as an inspiration for every child in the country, closing his post with Jai Hind .
AAP convenor Arvind Kejriwal on Friday, 17 July 2026, paid tribute to Flying Officer Nirmaljit Singh Sekhon, the only Indian Air Force recipient of the Param Vir Chakra, on his birth anniversary, saluting his bravery during the 1971 Indo-Pakistani War.
Context
Posting in Hindi, Kejriwal wrote: '1971 yuddh mein dushman jahaazon ke parkhachche udaane waale, Param Vir Chakra se sammanit Flying Officer Nirmaljit Singh Sekhon ji ki jayanti par unhe koti-koti naman.' In English: 'On the birth anniversary of Flying Officer Nirmaljit Singh Sekhon, honoured with the Param Vir Chakra for blowing enemy aircraft to pieces in the 1971 war, I bow to him a million times.' He added that 'every child of the country today is inspired by his extraordinary valour, patriotism and sacrifice,' closing with 'Jai Hind.'
Policy Backdrop
The Param Vir Chakra is India's highest wartime gallantry decoration, instituted by the Government of India in 1950. Flying Officer Sekhon is the sole IAF officer to have received the honour, awarded posthumously for his actions on 14 December 1971, when he single-handedly took on a formation of Pakistani F-86 Sabre jets attacking the Srinagar airfield, protecting the base at the cost of his own life.
The 1971 Indo-Pakistani War culminated in the creation of Bangladesh and remains a defining chapter in India's military history. Vijay Diwas has been observed annually on 16 December since 1972 to mark India's victory in that conflict.
Stakeholders and Impact
Tributes to Sekhon hold particular resonance for the Indian Air Force, military veterans, and the Sikh community, from which he hailed. His legacy is taught as part of the IAF's institutional memory and broader national defence education.
Indian political leaders across party lines routinely issue public remembrances for 1971 war gallantry awardees on birth and death anniversaries, reflecting a cross-partisan national consensus on honouring military sacrifice. Kejriwal's post follows this established pattern of public commemoration.
What's Next
Annual observances, including Vijay Diwas on 16 December, are expected to see further cross-party tributes to Flying Officer Sekhon and other 1971 war heroes. As political leaders continue to engage with themes of military valour and national sacrifice, such commemorations reinforce the symbolic importance of the armed forces in public discourse ahead of any electoral or policy cycle.
Point of View
Aligning the AAP leadership with a broadly shared national narrative around military valour. By invoking the 1971 war and the Param Vir Chakra, the post taps into a deep vein of cross-partisan patriotism that transcends ideological divides. Such gestures also serve to keep the AAP leadership visible in the national-security discourse at a time when the party is seeking to broaden its appeal beyond its traditional urban governance identity. The tribute fits a wider pattern in which opposition figures use military anniversaries to project statesmanlike credentials.
NationPress
17 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Flying Officer Nirmaljit Singh Sekhon?
Flying Officer Nirmaljit Singh Sekhon was an Indian Air Force pilot and the only IAF officer to receive the Param Vir Chakra , India's highest wartime gallantry award. He was honoured posthumously for single-handedly defending the Srinagar airfield against Pakistani Sabre jets during the 1971 Indo-Pakistani War .
Why is Nirmaljit Singh Sekhon famous?
Sekhon is famous for his extraordinary bravery on 14 December 1971 , when he took on a formation of Pakistani F-86 Sabre jets alone to protect the Srinagar airfield , sacrificing his life in the process. He remains the only Indian Air Force recipient of the Param Vir Chakra .
What is the Param Vir Chakra?
The Param Vir Chakra is India's highest military decoration for valour in the face of the enemy. It was instituted by the Government of India in 1950 and is awarded for the most conspicuous acts of bravery or self-sacrifice in combat.
What did Kejriwal say about Nirmaljit Singh Sekhon?
AAP convenor Arvind Kejriwal paid tribute to Sekhon on his birth anniversary on 17 July 2026 , saying every child in the country is inspired by his extraordinary valour, patriotism and sacrifice, and bowing to him 'a million times' with a Jai Hind salute.
When is Nirmaljit Singh Sekhon's birth anniversary?
Flying Officer Nirmaljit Singh Sekhon's birth anniversary falls on 17 July . Political leaders and the Indian Air Force mark the day with tributes to his memory and sacrifice in the 1971 war .
