Panaji: Prime Minister Narendra Modi celebrated Diwali with naval personnel onboard aircraft carrier INS Vikrant, which he described as a towering symbol of ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ (self-reliant India).
Modi arrived here on Sunday evening and boarded the home-built aircraft carrier off the coast of Goa. On Monday, the Prime Minister, while addressing the Armed Forces personnel on board the INS Vikrant, said the extraordinary coordination among the three services together compelled Pakistan to surrender during Operation Sindoor.
“The fear instilled by the Indian Navy, the extraordinary skill demonstrated by the Indian Air Force, and the bravery of the Indian Army, along with the exceptional coordination among all three services, compelled Pakistan to surrender swiftly during Operation Sindoor. All personnel involved deserve congratulations,” the PM affirmed.
Keeping up with the tradition of celebrating his Diwali with India’s brave Armed Forces personnel, the Prime Minister visited INS Vikrant off the coast of Goa and Karwar. He expressed his privilege in celebrating this Diwali among the brave personnel of the Indian Navy.
During his address, PM Modi lauded the valour and determination of security forces and said it was due to that, the nation has achieved a significant milestone by “eliminating Maoist terrorism”.
INS Vikrant is not just a warship but is a testimony to 21st-century India’s hard work, talent, impact and commitment, Modi said. He said INS Vikrant reflects the capability of India’s armed forces and is a towering symbol of ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’.
The extraordinary coordination among the three services together compelled Pakistan to surrender during Operation Sindoor, the Prime Minister said.
Asserting that his government aims to make India one of the world’s top defence exporters, Modi said more than 40 warships and submarines have been built by our shipyards since 2014. PM Modi added that the name Brahmos strikes fear in some minds, and now many countries are keen to buy these missiles.
“The night spent yesterday on INS Vikrant is hard to put into words. I saw the immense energy and enthusiasm you all were filled with. When I saw you singing patriotic songs yesterday, and the way you described Operation Sindoor in your songs, no words can ever fully convey the experience that a jawan feels standing on a battlefield,” Modi said.
“My Diwali has been special as it was spent amongst you,” he said.
In his remarks, the Prime Minister also highlighted that the nation is witnessing eradication of Maoist terrorism due to the valour and courage of India’s security forces. “India is now on the verge of complete freedom from Naxal-Maoist extremism. Before 2014, around 125 districts were in the grip of Maoist violence; today, this number has reduced to just 11, with only three districts remaining significantly impacted. While 90 percent success has been achieved, I am confident that police forces will succeed in completely eliminating Maoist violence,” PM asserted.
PM Modi noted that over 100 districts have now fully emerged from the shadow of Maoist terror and are breathing freely for the first time and celebrating Diwali.PM Modi Celebrates Diwali Aboard INS Vikrant (Special Arrangement)
He emphasised that millions of people, after generations of fear, are now joining the mainstream of development. “In regions where Maoists once obstructed the construction of roads, schools, hospitals and mobile towers, highways are now being built and new industries are emerging. This success has been made possible by the dedication, sacrifice, and bravery of India’s security forces. In many such districts, people are celebrating Diwali for the first time. Record sales and purchases are being witnessed in these areas during the GST Bachat Utsav. In districts where Maoist terror once suppressed even the mention of the Constitution, the mantra of Swadeshi now resonates,” the PM expressed.
