Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to spend Diwali today with soldiers, a tradition he has followed every year since he came to power in 2014.
PM Modi also tweeted his tribute to soldiers, urging citizens to light Diyas for those who protected the borders. “This Diwali, let us also light a Diya as a #Salute2Soldiers who fearlessly protect our nation.
We are also grateful to the families of those on the borders,” he wrote on a day four soldiers died for the country as Pakistani troops violated the ceasefire in Jammu and Kashmir. Three civilians were also killed in the massive flare-up at the Line of Control on Friday.
Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat may join the Prime Minister on his visit.
Last year, PM Modi visited Jammu and Kashmir’s Rajouri district to celebrate Diwali with soldiers guarding the Line of Control (LoC).
The year before, he was at the in Uttarakhand. In 2017, he spent the festival of lights with soldiers posted at Gurez sector of north Kashmir.
PM Modi spent his first Diwali in office with soldiers at Siachen, the world’s highest battlefield. He reportedly spent Diwalis in a similar manner when he was Chief Minister of Gujarat.
Saturday’s visit will be the second time this year that the PM is interacting with soldiers. In July, he made a surprise visit to a forward post in Ladakh at the height of a border confrontation with China following a clash on June 14 when 20 soldiers died for the country at Galwan Valley.
“Bharat Mata’s enemies have seen your fire and fury,” he said, addressing soldiers of the Leh-based 14 Corps, known as the Fire and Fury Corps.
