‘Place where troops deployed no less than temple’: PM Modi celebrates Diwali with jawans in Himachal Pradesh’s Lepcha | India News
Addressing the nation after interacting with the jawans, the Prime Minister said that his Diwali greetings “from the last village of the country as well as the first” will be special for all the citizens of the country.
Live updates: Diwali celebrations
“I am celebrating Diwali with security forces and therefore this Diwali greeting towards people are also special … my warm wishes to everyone, on the occasion of Diwali,” the PM said.
He said that for him, any place where the troops are posted is no less than a temple for him
“For me, a place where our security forces are deployed is no less than a temple. Even when I was not PM or CM, I would go to border areas during Diwali to celebrate with security forces,” PM Modi said.
PM Modi recounted how he celebrates Diwali with Army personnel every year, adding that while people believe that Ayodhya is where Lord Ram is, he feels that “Ayodhya is where Indian Army personnel are.”
Heaping praise on the soldiers, PM Modi said that since India’s Independence in 1947, these brave hearts (Army personnel) have fought and won many wars.
“In the International Peace Mission, India’s global image was improved because of them. Is there any such issue, to which our brave hearts have not provided solution?” PM Modi said.
PM Modi said that India is safe as long as its brave soldiers are standing on its borders, “unflinching as the Himalayas”.
PM Modi, who arrived in Himachal in the morning, shared photographs of his interactions with the soldiers in which he is seen offering sweets to them.
In his post on X, he said, “Spending Diwali with our brave security forces in Lepcha, Himachal Pradesh has been an experience filled with deep emotion and pride.”
“Away from their families, these guardians of our nation illuminate our lives with their dedication,” he said.
“The courage of our security forces is unwavering. Stationed in the toughest terrains, away from their loved ones, their sacrifice and dedication keep us safe and secure,” the Prime Minister added.
India will always be grateful to these heroes who are the perfect embodiment of bravery and resilience, Modi said in another post.
Earlier in the day, he greeted people on Diwali and wished them joy, prosperity and health.
“Wishing everyone a Happy Diwali! May this special festival bring joy, prosperity and wonderful health to everyone’s lives,” he said.
Since coming to power in 2014, Modi has been visiting military facilities to celebrate Diwali.
In 2014, the Prime Minister celebrated the festival of lights with soldiers at the Siachen Glacier.
In the following year, on the 50th anniversary of the 1965 war with Pakistan, PM Modi visited three memorials in Punjab where the Indian armed forces had fought pitched battles that proved to be key to the country’s victory.
In 2016, he travelled to Himachal Pradesh to meet the personnel of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), the Dogra Scouts and the Army at Sumdoh near the China border.
In 2017, he was in the Gurez sector in north Kashmir, while in 2018, he celebrated Diwali in Harsil, Uttarakhand, which was followed by a visit to Kedarnath.
After being re-elected to the high office in 2019, PM Modi celebrated Diwali in Rajouri in Jammu and Kashmir. In 2020, he was at a border post of Longewala on Diwali and in 2021, he celebrated the festival with soldiers in Nowshera.
The Prime Minister celebrated Diwali with the armed forces in Kargil last year.
(With inputs from PTI)
