PM Modi Diwali

India, 14th November: Prime Minister Narendra Modi reached Longewala post at the Rajasthan border on Saturday to celebrate Diwali with soldiers. PM Modi has been spending Diwali with soldiers since the year he first came to power.

Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat, Army Chief General MM Naravane, and Border Security Force (BSF) DG Rakesh Asthana has also accompanied him.

During an interaction with jawans, Prime Minister said no force in the world could prevent India’s soldiers from protecting the country’s borders. India has shown its strength and political will to give a befitting reply to those challenging it.

“I extend my Diwali greetings to you. I have brought the greetings of every Indian with me. You may be on snow-capped mountains or in deserts, but my Diwali is complete only when I celebrate with you. My happiness doubles when I look at the glee on your faces. Be it the peaks of The Himalayas, the stretch of the desert, dense forests or the depths of seas your valour has triumphed in every challenge,” PM told jawans, including those from the Border Security Force (BSF).

“The world has now understood that India won’t compromise its interests at any cost. The repute and stature of India are due to your strength and valour. The nation is clearly presenting its opinions on international fora today because you’ve secured the nation,” he said.

“India trusts the policy of understanding others, making them understand, but will reply strongly if it is tested. As long as you are there, this country’s Diwali celebrations will continue in full swing and luminescence,” he told the soldiers.

While talking about India’s defence capabilities, PM said, “India is working rapidly to increase its defence capabilities and make its defence sector atmanirbhar (self-reliant). We have decided to focus on the indigenous arms factory. This decision of the defence sector propelled 130 crore Indians to work towards vocal for local doctrine.”

Prime Minister asserted that India is becoming a strong voice against this thinking. “Today the whole world is troubled by expansionist forces. Expansionism is, in a way, a mental disorder and reflects 18th-century thinking. India is also becoming a strong voice against this idea,” he said.

The Prime Minister urged troops to innovate, practise yoga, and learn an Indian language. “I would like to implore three points to the armed forces. The first is to continue ingenuity by innovating; second is to practice yoga, and third is to learn a language other than your mother tongue and English.”

Earlier in the day, PM Modi tweeted his greeting to the nation and wished for the festival to bring ‘brightness and happiness’ in the lives of people. “Wishing everyone a Happy Diwali! May this festival further brightness and happiness. May everyone is prosperous and healthy,” PM Modi tweeted.

On Friday, the PM shared a clipping from Mann Ki Baat, delivered last on October 25, in which he urged every citizen to light a Diya as a salute to soldiers who “fearlessly protect our nation”.

“This Diwali, let us also light a Diya as a #Salute2Soldiers who fearlessly protect our nation. Words can’t do justice to the sense of gratitude we have for our soldiers for their exemplary courage. We are also grateful to the families of those on the borders,” he tweeted.

In 2019, PM Modi visited the “Hall of Fame” in Rajouri and the Pathankot Airbase during diwali. In 2018, he visited Kedarnathand and inspected a military post on the India-China border, and in 2017, he visited the Gurez sector of north Kashmir. He spent his Diwali with the Indo-Tibetan Border Police in Himachal Pradesh in 2016 and 2015, he visited the Punjab border.