Manas Dasgupta
NEW DELHI, Oct 24: The prime minister Narendra Modi, who as per the tradition set by him spent the Deepavali with the soldiers in the border, said on Monday that India had always viewed war as the last option but build up the defence forces since peace was not possible without strength.
Addressing the men deployed at the border posts Modi said, “India has always seen war as the last resort. Whether it took place in Lanka or Kurukshetra, till the end, every effort was made to prevent it. We are in the favour of world peace, but peace also can’t be achieved without strength. If anyone dares look at us with evil eyes, our three armed forces will give a befitting reply.”
Modi, who has been celebrating Deepavali with the security personnel since 2014, visited Kargil on Monday and shared a sneak peek into his this year’s Diwali celebrations with soldiers. “Sharing some more glimpses from the Diwali celebrations in Kargil. Met soldiers from all across India. Their courage and resolve inspire all our citizens”, Modi tweeted.
Interacting with the soldiers, Modi said “For me, all of you have been my family for years now. It is a privilege to spend Deepavali with our brave jawans in Kargil.” He distributed sweets among the Indian Army soldiers. He also laid a wreath at the Kargil War Memorial and paid tribute to the army personnel who lost their lives here in 1999. In a video, the prime minister could be seen singing and clapping along with the soldiers as they sang Vande Mataram.
Speaking on the 1999 Kargil war against Pakistan, Modi said, “The meaning of Deepavali is the end of Atank (terror) and Kargil made it possible. In Kargil, our forces crushed terror.” He also praised their bravery and said there has been no war with Pakistan where Kargil has not seen victory. He said, “Drass, Batalik and the Tiger Hill have been the witnesses of their lofty courage. In Kargil, our soldiers have managed to crush terrorism. I am a witness to the event,” he said.
Modi said he had witnessed the 1999 Kargil war closely. “I have witnessed the Kargil war closely. It was my duty that had brought me to Kargil back then. There are many memories of that time when the sounds of victory were reverberating all around,” Mr. Modi said. “In Kargil, our armed forces had crushed the hood of terror and people still remember the Diwali that was celebrated back then,” he said.
“India is now respected globally. While you protect our borders, we are taking a tough stand against our enemies. If we are challenged, then our armed forces know how to give a befitting reply to the enemy in their own language,” he said. “The country is secured when its borders are protected and economy is strong. In the past seven-eight years, India’s economy has reached the fifth position from 10th,” he added. India has been dealing with its enemies, both external and internal, with force, Mr. Modi said and recounted the steps taken to “uproot” the “terror, naxalism and extremism” from within the country.
Modi said over the last eight years, the government has worked on implementing reforms in the armed forces by deploying new technologies, developing infrastructure in border areas and opening up positions for women in the forces. “Our power is going to increase with the arrival of our daughters in the Indian Army,” he said.
“To facilitate the soldiers of this country in realising their responsibilities, we are developing hi-tech infrastructure in the border areas with seamless connectivity. Over the last eight years, we have worked with a focus on implementing reforms within the armed forces. We have opened positions in the forces for women. Nari Shakti (Women power) will strengthen our armed forces,” he added.
Targeting the previous governments over corruption, he said misgovernance has restricted the country’s potential for development. “Today the country is fighting a decisive war against corruption. No matter how powerful the corrupt is, he can’t escape, he won’t even survive. Misgovernance limited the country’s potential for a long time and put obstacles in the way of our development,” said PM Modi.
Since coming to power in 2014, PM Modi has been visiting different military facilities to celebrate Deepavali. Last year, PM Modi celebrated Deepavali with soldiers in Nowshera, Jammu. He had lauded the soldiers for serving on Indian borders and pointed out that security personnel were the “suraksha kawach” (armour) of the nation.
In 2020, PM Modi while celebrating Deepavali with soldiers at Longewala in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan had said as long as the Indian soldiers are present, this country’s Deepavali celebrations would continue in full swing and be luminescent.
In 2019, he celebrated Deepavali with soldiers in the Rajouri district along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir. He had exchanged Deepavali greetings with the Indian Air Force (IAF) personnel at Pathankot Air Force Station.
In 2018, PM Modi had celebrated Deepavali with jawans of the Indian Army and Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), at Harsil in Uttarakhand. Following that he had offered prayers at the Kedarnath shrine. In 2017, he celebrated the festival with army soldiers and Border Security Force (BSF) personnel in the Gurez Valley of Jammu and Kashmir’s Bandipora District.
In 2016, the PM went to Himachal Pradesh to celebrate the festival with ITBP personnel at an outpost. He visited the Punjab border to celebrate Deepavali with soldiers in 2015. In 2014, PM Modi spent Deepavali in Siachen with soldiers.