On the occasion of Diwali, Prime Minister Narendra Modi lauded the soldiers for serving on Indian borders and pointed out that security personnel were the “suraksha kawach” (armour) of the nation, reports Asian Lite News
Continuing his annual tradition, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday arrived in Nowshera, Jammu to celebrate Diwali with soldiers.
Last year, PM Modi while celebrating Diwali with soldiers at Longewala in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan had said that as long as the Indian soldiers are present, this country’s Diwali celebrations would continue in full swing and be luminescent.
The Prime Minister lauded the soldiers for serving on Indian borders and pointed out that security personnel were the “suraksha kawach” (armour) of the nation.
The Prime Minister further said that it is because of the soldiers that people can sleep peacefully.
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“Our soldiers are the ‘suraksha kawach’ of ‘Maa Bharti’. It is because of you all that people of our country can sleep peacefully and there is happiness during festivals,” the Prime Minister said while addressing the soldiers at Nowshera in Jammu and Kashmir.
“I have spent each Diwali with soldiers guarding our borders. Today, I have brought along with me the blessings of crores of Indians for our soldiers here,” he said.
The Prime Minister continued his annual tradition of celebrating Diwali with soldiers. Notably, PM Modi has been visiting soldiers on Diwali, ever since he was the Chief Minister of Gujarat.
Lauded soldiers for carrying out surgical strike
Prime Minister Modi on Thursday praised the soldiers for carrying out the surgical strike across the border and said that it fills everyone with pride.
He also said that the country has been giving a befitting reply to those attempting to disturb the peace in the region.
“It fills every Indian with pride on the role this brigade played during the surgical strike,” the Prime Minister said while addressing soldiers at Nowshera in Jammu and Kashmir.
He also said, “The role played by this brigade during the surgical strike fills everyone with pride. I will remember that day forever as it was decided that all soldiers should return before sunset… I was sitting beside the phone and was asking about the whereabouts of every soldier,”
“There were many attempts to disturb the peace here but each time a befitting reply has been given,” the Prime Minister added.
The Prime Minister during his address also lauded the soldiers for serving on Indian borders and pointed out that security personnel were the “suraksha kawach” (armour) of the nation.
The Prime Minister further said that it is because of the soldiers that people can sleep peacefully.
“Today I have in front of me brave brothers and sisters who have the good fortune of serving our motherland. I can see the dedication to protect our land in your eyes. It is because of you, we are able to celebrate our festivals with peace,” said the PM.
‘Self-reliance in defence sector’
Reiterating his vision of ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’, PM Modi said that the commitment to self-reliance in the defence sector is the only way to change old methods of procuring defence equipment.
While addressing soldiers at Nowshera in Jammu and Kashmir, the Prime Minister said, “Earlier, it used to take years together to procure defence equipment for the security forces. The commitment to self-reliance in the defence sector is the only way to change old methods.”
The Prime Minister also that this will make the defence sector stronger.
PM Modi further said that the connectivity of the border has significantly improved our security deployment capability.
“Connectivity in border areas has improved- be it from Ladakh to Arunachal Pradesh, Jaisalmer to Andaman and Nicobar Islands. This has helped us enhance our deployment capability,” the Prime Minster said.
Earlier in the day, the Prime Minister paid tribute to soldiers who lost their lives in the line of duty.
Visits in recent years
In 2019, the Prime Minister had celebrated Diwali with soldiers in the Rajouri district along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir.
He had called soldiers as his family and lauded them for guarding the borders even during festivals. He had exchanged Diwali greetings with the Indian Air Force (IAF) personnel at Pathankot Air Force Station.
In 2018, Prime Minister Modi had celebrated Diwali with jawans of the Indian Army and Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), at Harsil in Uttarakhand. Following that he had offered prayers at the Kedarnath shrine.
In 2017, the Prime Minister celebrated the festival of light with army soldiers and Border Security Force (BSF) personnel in the Gurez Valley of Jammu and Kashmir’s Bandipora District.
In 2016, the PM went to Himachal Pradesh to celebrate the festival with Indo-Tibetan Border Police personnel at an outpost.
He visited the Punjab border to celebrate Diwali with soldiers in 2015.
In 2014, Prime Minister Modi spent Diwali in Siachen with soldiers. (ANI)
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