Modi celebrates Diwali with soldiers in Jaisalmer

Continuing with his tradition to celebrate Diwali with security forces, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan to be with the jawans at Longewala. Chief of Defence Staff Bipin Rawat, Army Chief MM Narvane, BSF Director General Rakesh Asthana accompanied the Prime Minister.

Addressing the soldiers the Prime Minister said, “India is proud of our forces, who protect our nation courageously.”
“I would like to extend my Diwali greetings to you. I have brought the greetings of every Indian with me,” the Prime Minister said.

“Today, I also extend my heartiest greetings to the brave mothers sisters and children, and salute their sacrifice,” Modi said. Further he said, “People often questioned why I celebrated Diwali with jawans. How can I stay away from my own people on the occasion of Diwali?”

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had celebrated Diwali in 2019 in the forward areas of Rajouri district along the Line of Control (LoC). He had posted a short video on his official Twitter account in which he can been seen in a combat jacket, feeding sweets to soldiers under a camouflaged tent. PM Modi flew to the Army Brigade Headquarters in Rajouri town and interacted with the troops a few hours after Pakistani army targeted forward posts in the district. In a series of tweets, he had shared a number of pictures of the celebration with the jawans.

He was seen offering sweets to jawans in one picture, and in other pictures, he was seen saluting alongside Chief of Army Staff General Bipin Rawat, and Northen Army commander Lt Gen Ranbir Singh. On his way back to the from Rajouri, he also interacted with air warriors and personnel of the army at Pathankot Air Force Station. In 2018, PM Modi spent Diwali with the soldiers at the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) at Harsil village near the India-China border. Since becoming the Prime Minister in 2014, PM Modi has been celebrating Diwali with the security forces every year.