As is his custom, the Prime Minister spent Diwali with the armed forces in Kargil.
The Prime Minister told the brave jawans that he is always drawn to the brave sons and daughters of the armed forces because he respects the land of Kargil. “You’ve been a part of my family for years,” said the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister said that the jawans make Diwali even sweeter, and the light of Diwali that shines when they are around makes him feel stronger. “On one side, there are the sovereign borders of the nation, and on the other, there are braveheart jawans. I could not have imagined such a big Diwali anywhere else.”
The Prime Minister said that India is proud of these stories of bravery and valour because they are part of our culture and traditions. “Today, from the land of victory in Kargil,” the Prime Minister said, “I wish everyone in India and around the world a very happy Diwali.”
Privileged to spend Diwali with our brave Jawans in Kargil. https://t.co/ZQ0rP8GB8U
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 24, 2022
The Prime Minister said that there have been no other wars against Pakistan in which Kargil did not raise the Tricolor after winning. The Prime Minister talked about what India wants in the world today and said that he hoped the Festival of Lights would shine a light on the path to peace and prosperity in the world as it is now. “It is the festival of the end of terror,” the Prime Minister said to explain what Diwali is all about. Using Diwali as an example, the Prime Minister said, “Kargil did the exact same thing, and people still remember the celebrations of the victory.”
The Prime Minister said that he had seen the Kargil war and paid close attention to it. He thanked the government for keeping and showing pictures of the Prime Minister when he visited the soldiers while they were giving a good answer to the enemy during the war. These pictures were taken 23 years ago.
The Prime Minister said, “As a regular citizen, my Kartavya Path had led me to the battlefield.” The Prime Minister remembered that he had come to drop off the supplies that the people had put together and said that it was a time of worship for him. When asked about the mood at the time, the Prime Minister said that everyone had to give their mind, body, and soul to the cause. Cheers of victory could be heard all around us.
A spirited Diwali in Kargil! pic.twitter.com/qtIGesk98x
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 24, 2022
“The India we respect is not just a piece of land; it is a living spirit, a constant awareness, and a life that will last forever,” the Prime Minister said. Shri Modi continued, “When we talk about India, the eternal picture of India’s culture comes to the fore, the circle of legacy makes itself, and the model of India’s power starts to grow.” He also said that India is a stream of these kinds of weapons that starts with the sky-high Himalayas and goes all the way to the Indian Ocean.
The Prime Minister remembered that many of the great civilizations of the past were destroyed until they were just a few grains of sand, but India’s culture kept going. He said that a country can live forever when its brave sons and daughters have full faith in their strength and resources.
The bravery of the Indian Army is clear to see on the battlefield of Kargil. Shri Modi said, “Dras, Batalik, and Tiger Hill are proof that the courage and bravery of the Indian Armed Forces made enemies sitting on top of a mountain look small.” He said that the strong pillars of India’s security are the people who guard its borders. He also said that a country is only safe when its borders are safe, its economy is strong, and its people are confident in themselves.
The Prime Minister said that everyone in the country feels better when they hear good news about the country. The Prime Minister used the Swacch Bharat Mission and the timely delivery of pucca houses with electricity and water to show how united the country’s people feel.
He said that every jawan is proud of it. He said that when these services get to the homes of the jawans, it makes them happy. He also said that when the soldier notices the improvement in connectivity, it becomes easier for him to call home and even easier to get home when he is on leave. He also talked about how India went from having the 10th largest economy in the world 7-8 years ago to having the 5th largest economy in the world now.
He also talked about the more than 80,000 new businesses that keep the innovation mill going. He also said that ISRO set a new record two days ago when it launched 36 satellites at the same time to expand broadband internet. The Prime Minister also talked about how the Tricolor helped protect Indians during the Ukraine War.
The Prime Minister said it was because India had been able to win its battles against both outside and inside enemies. “You are acting as a shield at the border while the enemies inside the country are being dealt with in a harsh way.” Shri Modi said that the country has tried to get rid of terrorism, Naxalism, and extremism with success. The Prime Minister said that Naxalism, which used to cover a large part of the country, is getting smaller and smaller.
The Indian Prime Minister said that India is fighting a decisive war against corruption. “No matter how strong a crook is, he can’t get away from the law.” He also said that bad leadership had kept the country from reaching its full potential by putting roadblocks in the way of its growth. “We are quickly getting rid of all these old problems with the mantra of Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, and Sabka Prayas,” he said.
The Prime Minister said that because of how far technology has come in modern warfare, the nature of future wars will change. In this new era, we are preparing the military strength of the country for the new challenges, new methods, and changing needs of national defence.
The Prime Minister talked about the need for major reforms in the army, which has been felt for decades. He said that all possible steps are being taken to make sure that our forces are better coordinated so that we can respond quickly to any threat. “This is why a place like CDS has been set up. On the border, a network of modern infrastructure is being built to make it easier for our troops to do their jobs, he said. He also said that the country is opening a lot of Sainik Schools.
The Prime Minister talked about Atmanirbhar Bharat and said that having modern weapons made in India is the most important thing for the security of the country. The Prime Minister said that all three parts of the military have decided to use foreign weapons and systems as little as possible and have promised to be self-sufficient. “I admire that our three armies have decided to make more than 400 pieces of defence equipment in India instead of buying them from other countries,” he said.
The Prime Minister talked about the benefits of using weapons made in India. He said that when Indian soldiers fight with weapons made in India, their faith will be at its highest, and their attacks will surprise the enemy and bring down their morale.
The Prime Minister talked about Prachand, which are light combat helicopters, Tejas, which are fighter jets, and the huge aircraft carrier Vikrant. He also talked about Arihant, Prithvi, Akash, Trishul, Pinak, and Arjun, which are India’s missiles. He also said that India now exports defence equipment, is improving its missile defence system, and is working quickly on new and useful technology like drones.
Shri Modi said, “We stick to our traditions, which say that war is the last resort.” He said that India always wants peace in the world. Shri Modi said, “We don’t want war, but you can’t have peace without power.” He also said that our armies have the skills and the right plan, and that if the enemy looks at us, our armies know how to talk to them in their own language and give them a good answer.
When talking about efforts to get rid of the slave mentality, the Prime Minister used the newly opened Kartavya Path as an example. He said that it helps spread the new religion of New India. “Both the National War Memorial and the National Police Memorial are part of India’s new identity,” he said. The Prime Minister also talked about the new Indian Navy Ensign. He said, “Now the naval flag is a reminder of Shivaji’s bravery.”
The Prime Minister said that everyone in the world is looking at India and its growth potential right now. Shri Modi said that the Azadi Ka Amrit Kaal will really show how powerful India is. The Prime Minister said, “You have a big part to play in this because you are the Pride of India.” At the end of his speech, he read a poem that was written for the soldiers of the Indian Armed Forces.