Every year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi celebrates Diwali festivities with the Indian armed troops. This year, the PM reached Longewala, a border town in the Thar Desert in Jaisalmer, to celebrate the festival of lights on Saturday.
PM Modi bestowed rich tributes to the courage and fearlessness of the Indian armed forces. He greeted the soldiers stationed at Longewala. “I would like to extend my Diwali greetings to you. I have brought the greetings of every Indian with me,” said the Prime Minister while addressing the troops. “Whether you are serving in icy heights or deserts, my Diwali is complete only when I see the joy on your face,” added Modi.
During the 1971 Indo-Pakistan War, the Longewala battle was one of the first key battles between Indian and Pakistani troops. “Whenever history on the excellence of our soldiers will be written, the Battle of Longewala will be remembered,” said Modi.
The Prime Minister commended the soldiers’ bravery and courage to give a fitting response to those trying to challenge the nation’s sovereignty and added that the world knows that India will not compromise with its interests at any cost. During his Diwali speech, Modi also took an indirect dig at China. “The entire world feels troubled by expansionist forces,” he said.
Modi Diwali speech comes on the eve of India’s retaliatory attack against Pakistan along the LOC border on Friday. In a heavy firing exchange between the Indian and Pakistani troops along the Line of Control in Kashmir on Friday, multiple soldiers on both sides of the border were killed and several others wounded. It is being reported that at least six to seven Pakistani soldiers were killed and many injured. India too suffered a huge loss as five Indian soldiers and multiple civilians lost their lives. These exchanges between India and Pakistan are untimely as India is already having a standoff with China in eastern Ladakh.
