New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman with a tweet on Friday night, shortly after the captured pilot was escorted into India through the Wagah Crossing amid loud cheers from jubilant crowds.
"Welcome Home Wing Commander Abhinandan! The nation is proud of your exemplary courage. Our armed forces are an inspiration for 130 crore Indians. Vande Mataram!" he tweeted.
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"Welcome Home Wing Commander Abhinandan!
— Narendra Modi (
The nation is proud of your exemplary courage.
Our armed forces are an inspiration for 130 crore Indians.
Vande Mataram!) March 1, 2019
Wing Commander Varthaman, who was taken into custody by Pakistan after his fighter jet crashed in an air encounter between the countries on Wednesday, entered the Indian side at 9.20 pm. An elaborate flag-lowering ceremony at the Wagah Crossing -- which draws thousands of spectators on both sides -- was cancelled to restrict the crowds.