KNB News Desk
Srinagar 04 November (KNB): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday visited Nowshera in J&K and paid tributes to the soldiers who lost their lives on the line of duty and invoked the Indian soldiers’ success during the surgical strike and Nowshera’s role in it.
On the occasion of Diwali, PM visited Nowshera and after paying his tributes to fallen soldiers, he addressed the troops and said to them that after he landed on the soil of Nowshera he felt different feelings inside him.
The PM told the soldier that everyone feels to celebrate Diwali with their family members and said that he too feels the same to celebrate Diwali with his family members and that is why he comes to celebrate it every time with them (soldiers). Modi said the soldiers are his family and he is family to them.
Narendra Modi also extended his wishes on the Diwali to the soldiers and said that he and every citizen of the country sent forth their best wishes to them and all others occupied in the service of the nation.
“The Nowshera’s existing atmosphere is a living example of the valour of soldiers like you,” PM said, adding, “Nowshera has given reply to every battle and conspiracy and by that has worked to guard Kashmir and Srinagar.”
The PM also praised the efforts of soldiers in protecting Nowshera after independence. He said enemies had fixed their eyes on the Nowshera but all those conspiracies has failed before the valour of Nowshera’s soldiers after looking at its status quo today.
He said that he would like to bow to Nowshera’s Brigadier Mohammad Usman and others, who for the country’s protection sacrificed themselves.
The PM also invoked the surgical strike and praised the role played by Nowshera in it. Modi recounted how he was on tenterhooks at the time of surgical strikes whether his soldiers had returned back safely. He expressed his exuberance at the success achieved by the Indian Army during the surgical strikes.
He said that the country inevitably had had to stoop before others regarding the state of the art, sophisticated weapons and other gadgets. He further said that 65% of the defence budget is being used to purchase things from within the country. Modi also hoped for things to get better in future with more defence related items to be procured from the nation only, which would make the country self-reliant.
PM also emphasized on the country’s continuous effort on the defence strengthening and hinted towards a number of things are being pursued in this regard. “UP and Tamil Nadu’s in progress Defence Corridors would further enhance its speed,” he said. (KNB)