PM Modi celebrated Diwali at an Army division in Rajouri in 2019.

Srinagar:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today praised the soldiers serving in border areas, pointing that they were the “suraksha kawach” (armour) of the nation, as he met army personnel in Jammu and Kashmir on the occasion of Diwali, keeping up with his practice of spending the festival with soldiers.

“Our soldiers are the “suraksha kawach” of “Maa Bharti“. It is because of you all that people of our country can sleep peacefully and there is happiness during festivals,” the Prime Minister said in Nowshera sector in the border district of Rajouri in Jammu and Kashmir.

The Prime Minister also praised the army personnel for the surgical strikes carried out by India five years ago. India had conducted the surgical strike on September 29, 2016, across the Line of Control (LoC) as a response to a terrorist attack on an Army base in the Uri sector of Jammu and Kashmir.

Attempts were made to spread terrorism after the surgical strike but they were given a befitting reply, he said.

“In the surgical strike, your contribution will be remembered by the country. I was waiting anxiously for the call, didn’t want anyone to be left behind. But you came out as winners. Even after the strikes, attempts were made to disturb the peace here,” he said.

India must enhance its military capabilities in line with the changing world and modes of war, he said.

This is the second time PM Modi is celebrating Diwali with troops in the district.

Ahead of PM Modi’s visit, Army Chief General MM Naravane arrived in Jammu yesterday and visited forward areas to assess the security situation.

The twin border districts of Poonch and Rajouri have witnessed a spurt in violence and 11 soldiers have been killed over the last three weeks.

The army has been engaged in one of the longest anti-terrorism operations in Poonch-Rajouri forests area in the last 24 days. Nine soldiers have lost their lives in the operation but so far, there is no success against terrorists hiding in the region.

In 2019, the Prime Minister celebrated Diwali at an Army division in Rajouri, and this time he is celebrating the festival with soldiers in  Nowshera, which is close to the LoC.

Last week, two soldiers including an officer were killed in a mine blast in the same sector.