New Delhi:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will spend Diwali with soldiers and jawans from the Border Security Force (BSF) in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan today, following his customary tradition for the seventh year in a row.
PM Modi’s visit also comes a day after eleven people, including five soldiers, were killed in ceasefire violations by Pakistani troops in several parts of northern Jammu and Kashmir.
He had tweeted his tribute to the soldiers on Friday and asked everyone to light a diya for them.
“This Diwali, let’s also light a Diya like a # Salut2Soldiers who fearlessly protect our nation. Words cannot do justice to the feeling of gratitude we have for our soldiers for their exemplary courage. We are also grateful to the families of these. on the borders, ”PM Modi tweeted.
Reports had speculated that the prime minister would visit an advanced area of Jaisalmer.
Today’s visit will be the second time this year that PM Modi has interacted with soldiers. In July, he made a surprise visit to an outpost in Ladakh at the height of a border clash with China following a clash on June 14 when 20 soldiers were killed in action in the Galwan Valley.
It will be the Prime Minister’s seventh Diwali with soldiers; his first Diwali in office in 2014 was with soldiers in Siachen, the world‘s highest battlefield. He is said to have spent Diwalis in the same way when he was chief minister of Gujarat.
Last year, PM Modi traveled to Rajouri district in Jammu and Kashmir to celebrate Diwali with soldiers guarding the Line of Control (LoC).
