Subhechcha Ganguly 
Continuing his tradition of celebrating Diwali with military personnel, Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited security forces stationed in Kachchh, Gujarat, this year. He met with members of the BSF, Army, Navy, and Air Force at Lakki Nala in Sir Creek. Dressed in military attire, he distributed sweets and conveyed Diwali wishes on behalf of 1.4 billion Indians, recognizing their vital role in maintaining the nation’s peace and stability. “The country sees in you a guarantee of security and peace,” he remarked, highlighting that India’s strength is evident to the world and that adversaries are aware their harmful intentions will not succeed.
In his reflections on national security, PM Modi affirmed his government’s commitment to protecting India’s borders. He recalled his tenure as Gujarat’s Chief Minister, during which he opposed diplomatic measures that could jeopardize the integrity of Sir Creek. He stressed, “We no longer trust the enemy’s words, but we trust our soldiers’ vows.”
Since taking office in 2014, Prime Minister Modi has spent Diwali with soldiers across various regions of the country, including Siachen, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, and Lepcha in Himachal. Each year, these visits serve to demonstrate the government’s appreciation for the armed forces.
On October 31, the Prime Minister also observed National Unity Day in Kewadiya, Gujarat, in honor of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s birth anniversary. During the event at the Statue of Unity, he inaugurated a two-year celebration commemorating Patel’s 150th birth anniversary, emphasizing that this year’s Unity Day is particularly significant as it coincides with Diwali.
