How PM Modi Celebrated Diwali With Soldiers In Jammu And Kashmir
India Prime Minister Narendra Modi celebrated Diwali with soldiers of the Indian army at the Line of Control in Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday.
This is in continuation of the tradition set by the Prime Minister himself.
This is the third time Mr Modi has celebrated Diwali with the real heroes in Jammu and Kashmir.
Mr Modi visited the “Hall of Fame” in Rajouri where he paid homage to soldiers and citizens, who laid down their lives to protect Rajouri and Poonch sectors.
The PM also visited the Pathankot airbase to meet the air warriors of Indian Air Force (IAF).
Mr Modi, while addressing the soldiers, said everyone endeavours to travel far and wide to celebrate the festival of Diwali with family members and likewise he too travelled to be with members of his family, the brave soldiers of the armed forces.
The Prime Minister recalled the valour and supreme sacrifices made by the armed forces on October 27, 1947, which is also celebrated as infantry day.
Mr Modi also listed the steps being taken by the government to further strengthen and modernise the Indian defence forces. He added that the government was committed to taking steps to ensure the welfare of soldiers.
To pay homage and mark their contributions, the government endeavoured to engrave the landmark National War Memorial in New Delhi, the PM said adding that the increasing number of visitors to the memorial shows the respect accorded by the citizens towards the contributions of armed forces.
Modi’s Diwlai greetings
Meanwhile, the Prime Minister stressed the need to focus on festival tourism in India and urged Indians living abroad to promote traditional festivals.
Beginning his ‘Mann Ki Baat’ monthly radio episode by extending Diwali greetings to the nation, the Prime Minister said: “We should pray to eliminate the enmity on the occasion.”
Noting that Diwali is celebrated in several countries with the participation of their governments, Mr Modi said India presented immense possibilities for festival tourism as it was a “land of festivals”.
“We must try to popularise our festivals such as Holi, Diwali, Onam, Pongal and Bihu and invite people from other states and countries too to join the festivities,” Mr Modi said in his 58th episode.
He said every state and region in the country has its own festivals and people from foreign nations have a keen interest in them. “In our country, every region has so many diverse festivals which the Indians living abroad must promote so as to facilitate festival tourism in India.”
The Prime Minister said that Indians living abroad have an important role in boosting festival tourism in India.
Mr Modi also urged the people to be compassionate and generous during the festive season to ensure that the less privileged also become part of the celebrations.