Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday lauded the Indian soldiers for guarding the country’s borders and described them as the “suraksha kawach” (armour) of the nation. The Prime Minister further said that it is because of the Indian soldiers that people can sleep peacefully.
“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 while addressing the soldiers at the Nowshera sector in the Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir.
“I have spent each Diwali with soldiers guarding our borders. Today, I have brought along with me the blessings of crores of Indians for our soldiers here,” he said.
During his speech, the Prime Minister noted that modern border infrastructure is being built to augment connectivity and troop deployment and stressed that “India must enhance its military capabilities in line with the changing world and modes of war.”
PM Modi lauded the role played by the brigade here in surgical strikes. It may be noted that 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.
PM Modi said “many attempts were made to spread terrorism here’’ after the surgical strike but they were given a ‘’befitting reply.’’ India must enhance its military capabilities in line with the changing world and modes of war, the Prime Minister said.
He said that connectivity in border areas has improved – be it from Ladakh to Arunachal Pradesh, Jaisalmer to Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Borders and coastal areas lacking normal connectivity now have roads and optical fibres, and this boosts deployment capabilities as well as facilities for soldiers, the Prime Minister said.
PM Modi also said that earlier the country had to depend mostly on imports in the defence sector but with his government’s attempts indigenous capabilities have gotten a boost.
He wholeheartedly hailed the courage of soldiers and said their capability and strength has ensured peace and security for the country. The Prime Minister also continued with his annual tradition of celebrating Diwali with soldiers.