Uttarkashi (Uttarakhand), November 7 :Prime Minister Narendra Modi celebrated Diwali with Army and ITBP personnel on Wednesday at Harsil near the India-China border in Uttarakhand.
The Prime Minister remained with troops for about an-hour-and-a-half.
He said Diwali is the festival of lights, it spreads the light of goodness and dispels fear. He said the jawans, through their commitment and discipline, are also helping to spread the sense of security and fearlessness among the people.
The Prime Minister recalled that he has been visiting soldiers on Diwali ever since he was the chief minister of Gujarat. PM Modi said he still remembers his Kailash Mansarovar Yatra long back and that how ITBP jawans helped him and other pilgrims in the pilgrimage.
He extended Diwali wishes to the jawans and their families and offered sweets to the personnel.
Modi said India is taking great strides forward in the defence sector. He spoke of various measures being taken for the welfare of ex-servicemen, including implementation of ‘one rank, one pension’ (OROP).
Modi said the Indian Armed Forces draw admiration and appreciation across the world, in UN peacekeeping operations.
He also interacted with people from nearby areas who had gathered to greet him on Diwali. PM Modi landed at Harshil at 7.50 am and left at 9.10 am.
Harshil is a cantonment area situated at a height of 7,860 ft close to the India-China border in Uttarkashi district.
The Prime Minister also vsisted Kedarnath and offered prayers besides reviewing the progress of reconstruction projects at Kedarpuri.
Kedarpuri, the township situated close to the Himalayan shrine, had bore the brunt of the catastrophic floods of 2013 which killed thousands of people.
Responding to Diwali greeting from Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday night, Modi had said, “Every year, I visit our border areas and surprise our troops. This year too, will spend Diwali with our brave troops. Spending time with them is special.” – With PTI inputs
