PM Modi likely to celebrate Diwali with soldiers

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to spend Diwali with soldiers at a
forward base, most likely in the northern sector, in keeping with his practice
of celebrating with troops since becoming PM in 2014, officials said on
Saturday.

The officials said Modi could spend the festival with soldiers deployed
along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir, although the army was
tight-lipped about the PM’s plans. “Yes, he is travelling outside Delhi for
Diwali celebrations, but we are not in a position to comment further,” a senior
official said.

The army has deployed more troops along the LoC over the past two months to
deal with an unusual spike in infiltration by Pakistan-backed terrorists
looking to create trouble in Jammu &
Kashmir since the Centre’s move revoking the special status of the state on
August 5

PM Modi has always spent the festival with soldiers in forward areas to
boost their morale after assuming office in 2014.

Modi started his Diwali day in 2014 with soldiers in Siachen, the world’s highest
battlefield, where he made an unannounced and rare visit to boost the morale of
the troops guarding the icy heights.

Apart from the northern sector, he has spent time with troops on Diwali in
the central and eastern sectors, too.

Last year, the Prime Minister had celebrated the festival with soldiers and
Indo-Tibetan Border Police personnel at a forward area near the India-China
border in Uttarakhand.