PM Modi has spent Diwali with soldiers since coming to power in 2014
New Delhi:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute to the soldiers and their sacrifices as he spent Diwali with soldiers in Longewala in Jaisalmer of Rajasthan. Spending Diwali with soldiers is a tradition that PM Modi has followed every year since coming to power in 2014. PM Modi’s visit also comes a day after eleven people, including five soldiers, were killed in ceasefire violations. fire by Pakistani troops in several areas of northern Jammu and Kashmir.
Here are the main quotes from PM Modi to the soldiers in Jaisalmer:
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I salute you all. If you are all there, then the nation is there, its citizens are safe and therefore the festivals take place. Thank you all on behalf of all Indian citizens. I bring their good wishes, blessings, and gratitude and bring them all to you in person.
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As the nation celebrates Diwali today, you are all here protecting the nation. This sense of duty, this sacrifice, deserves praise. Not just you, the sacrifice of your families also deserves praise. All Indians thank them.
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Some may wonder why Modi ji goes out to meet soldiers year after year at Diwali. But tell me one thing, Diwali is a festival that we celebrate with family and with those we call our own. So every year I spend time with all of you, because you are all mine, my family. I’m bringing candy for all of you today. But it’s not just about me. It is all 130 Indian crores.
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India has long borders with several nations, but if there is one border post whose name is known to all Indians, it is Longewala. The Battle of Longewala is one that all Indians know and the saying goes “Jo bole so nihaal, sat sri akaal“comes to mind every time we think about it.
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The Battle of Longewala took place when Pakistan opened the 1971 War on the Western Front to hide its war crimes, human rights violations and heated crimes in Bangladesh (then in East Pakistan). This included horrific crimes against women and children.
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Pakistan believed that opening a war front with India on the western border would divert the world’s attention to this and that their crimes and atrocities in Bangladesh (then East Pakistan) would be hidden and forgotten. But that did not happen. Their evil designs and their intentions were defeated, like them. Next year will mark the 50th anniversary of the 1971 Indo-Pakistani War, which is why I wanted to visit this border post and meet you all.
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The lesson that history has taught all nation states, that only those nations stand the test of time and exist and flourish over time, who can meet the challenges that present themselves and know how to overcome those challenges by triumphing.
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Today India has a strong defense and a determined political will to take action when the need arises. Today India knows the language that sends a clear message to those who threaten our progress and take our intention of peace for granted.
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Today, if the need arises, India does not hesitate to enter and eliminate the enemy. Whether it is ground strikes or air strikes; our decisions have sent a clear message to those who do not understand the goodwill for peace.
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Today India is rapidly building its border infrastructure and has prioritized its defense needs, such as equipment, materiel, arms and ammunition, logistics supplies and even heavy machinery and equipment. Not only is this all a priority, but our effort is to manufacture in India and develop our defense sector as well. We have already started to see this. The unity and strength of a nation depend very much on the unity of its people.
