He was briefly addressing a group of Puneites who went to the War Memorial at Morwada junction to pay homage to the Indian Air Force officer who was killed by Pakistani soldiers and other officers and men both of the air force and the army who laid down their lives in the Kargil action. The citizens' homage was organised by Vikas Mathkari, BJP corporator. Also present was Pune's Deputy Mayor Mahadeo Babar.

Navalkar lauded the citizens' gesture and said the need today was to bring the civilian population and the defence personnel closer. He regretted that the awareness among citizens at large about the vigilance the armed forces were keeping at the nation's border under extremely difficult conditions was on the decrease, so was the fascination of a career in defence.

Go through the interviews of top-notchers or their parents after the secondary or higher secondary examination, he said, you will find almost none speaking of career in armed forces.

Navalkar said he was highly impressed by the post-independence War Memorial erected in Pune by citizens and said the Maharashtra government, if called upon, will arrange for its impeccable maintenance.