Chennai: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister E.K. Palaniswami on Friday demanded that the Centre confer the Param Vir Chakra – the country’s highest military honour – on wing commander Abhinandan Varthaman.
Palaniswami, whose AIADMK party has forged an alliance with the BJP to contest the coming Lok Sabha polls, said Abhinandan displayed amazing poise and confidence in the face of adverse conditions and won hearts across the country.
“It is appropriate that he be awarded India’s highest military honour Param Vir Chakra for displaying most inimitable gallantry and valour,” the Chief Minister wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Abhinandan is a native of Tamil Nadu. He is being debriefed by the Air Force since his release by Pakistan on March 1.
The wing commander was flying a MiG fighter jet when it was shot down by Pakistani air force fighter jets during an aerial dog fight over the LoC.
He showed exemplary courage on enemy soil, refusing to disclose sensitive information despite being subjected to mental and physical torture by Pakistani interrogators, a senior official who is part of the debriefing told journalists.
