Nowshera: Like every year since he became India’s Prime Minister, Narendra Modi is celebrating Diwali with soldiers of Indian Army.
This time, he’s visiting Nowshera in the border district of Rajouri in Jammu and Kashmir.
The PM, who reached Nowshera this morning, said that he wished to celebrate Diwali with family members and, hence, he joins soldiers at border areas every year on the occasion.
“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. Your capability, strength ensure peace and security for the country,” Modi told the troops after distributing sweets to every one of them.
“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.
Modi, who took over as India’s Prime Minister after BJP-led NDA won the general elections in the summer of 2014, started his annual Diwali ritual with a visit to Siachen that year.
Recalling the Army’s surgical strikes against militant launch pads in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir two years ago, Modi said every Indian is proud of the role played by this brigade.
“Many attempts were made to spread terrorism here after that, but (the jawans) gave a befitting reply,” he said.
Speaking about enhanced procurement of defence equipment, the PM said that the commitment to self-reliance in defence sector is the only way to change old methods.
“We have to enhance, adapt our military capabilities in line with changing world and mode of war,” he added.
