National Desk, 12th November: Prime Minister Narendra Modi continued his longstanding tradition of celebrating Diwali with soldiers, joining them in Lepcha, Himachal Pradesh. Addressing the troops, PM Modi expressed, “India is safe as long as our Army stands firm and unshakable like the Himalayas, on its borders.” He commended the Army for its crucial role in securing borders amidst global conflicts, stating, “Given the situation in the world today, expectations from India are continuously increasing.”
Modi highlighted the troops’ contribution to nation-building and acknowledged their sacrifice by spending Diwali away from family, calling it the pinnacle of devotion to duty. The Prime Minister, observing this tradition for over three decades, sees the deployment of security forces as sacred as a temple.
He proudly noted India’s emergence as a global player in the defence sector, citing an eightfold rise in defence exports and a domestic production worth Rs 1 lakh crore between Diwali 2016 and this year.