Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi,
today made a surprise visit to Siachen. Addressing officers and jawans
of the Indian Armed Forces at Siachen Base Camp at a height of over
12,000 feet, he praised their valour and courage, saying that 125 crore
Indians could celebrate Diwali today, and go about their lives in
comfort, because the jawans stood guard at the borders, prepared to make
every sacrifice for the nation. The nation is proud of all three wings
of the armed forces, the Prime Minister added.
The Prime Minister said he had come
unannounced, and the jawans may be surprised, but one does not need to
announce arrival when coming to one`s own (family).
The Prime Minister said the jawans
at Siachen worked in one of the remotest places in the world. It is a
rare opportunity to be called upon to defend the country in such
difficult conditions, he said.
Shri Narendra Modi said that he
comes to Siachen as a representative of the family members of the jawans
who are busy serving Mother India on the borders.
He said he is privileged that his first Diwali as Prime Minister will
be spent partly with the jawans of Siachen, and partly with those
affected by the floods in Srinagar.
The Prime Minister said the Indian Armed
Forces were unique – because while they spelt trouble for the enemy on
the battlefield, they spelt life for all the countrymen affected by
disasters or natural calamities. He recalled the immense contribution
made by the Armed Forces during the recent floods in Srinagar.
The Prime Minister also appreciated the
fact that women too were now contributing to the Indian Armed Forces in a
significant way.
Sharing the pain and anguish of those
who lose their loved ones in these difficult conditions, the Prime
Minister said sometimes a body is found years later, and many still
wait. He said one has to witness first-hand, the conditions at Siachen
to appreciate the hardship that the jawans go through.
The Prime Minister assured the jawans
that wherever they are, and serving or retired, the country stands
shoulder to shoulder with them. He said their dreams and
responsibilities are the entire country`s responsibility. He said he
would do his utmost to ensure a life of dignity for them. The
Prime Minister said the promise of One Rank, One Pension had been
fulfilled, and preparations were being made for a National War Memorial,
that we could all be proud of. The Prime Minister
wished the entire country “Happy Diwali” from the icy heights of
Siachen, adding that as countrymen light diyas today, they should recall
that the warmth of the earthen lamps has been fuelled by the sweat and
toil of the jawans of the Indian Armed Forces. Let those jawans inspire
the rest of the country to work towards achieving the dreams and
aspirations of the common man, he added.
The Prime Minister later handed over a
cheque for Rs. 5 lakh for the welfare of the jawans, and personally
offered sweets to the jawans. He wrote in the visitors` book, saying
that the soldiers in uniform who guarded the nation`s frontiers in such
difficult conditions were no less than `rishis` and sages. The Prime
Minister was at Siachen Base Camp for over an hour.
No comments:
Post a Comment