Celebrate Diwali in the name of jawans who sacrifice life for country: Modi
New Delhi: On the 25th edition of Mann Ki Baat on Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi wished the people of India a happy Diwali.
Speaking about the importance of the festival, Modi said that all forms of darkness, both inside us and around the world, can be fought with the ‘deep’ of Deepavali.
“Our festivals are linked closely to nature - the food, weather, everything about a festival is so symbiotic,” Modi said.
Indian festivals are fixed based not only on the phases of the moon but also the mood of the people, Modi said.
Stating that everyone cleans their homes for Diwali, the PM said that world leaders like British PM Theresa May were also celebrating the festival this year.
“Diwali is now not just celebrated in India, but all over the world. Diwali is a festival which is bringing people together around the world,” the PM said.
The Prime Minister called on the people of India to celebrate Diwali in the name of jawans who were sacrificing their lives on the border every day.
“Be it BSF, CRPF or other units, our jawans are on duty and guarding us. That is why we are celebrating Diwali joyfully,” the PM said.
“People from all walks of life sent messages of love and encouragement for our jawans, just as they lit candles for their well being,” Modi said.
Modi requested parents to keep a watch on their children and accompany them while the latter burst crackers.
Speaking about the campaign to make India open-defecation free, Modi said Kerala will soon become the first state in the country to achieve this milestone, while Gujarat has also gone a long way towards achieving that goal.
"There are many government schemes which are redundant. While we have gas subsidy, there is also subsidised kerosene," the PM said denouncing black marketers and those who used the benefit of subsidy despite not needing it.
" Haryana is working hard to free itself from kerosene. This will save the government money but it will hurt the black marketers," he added.
The Prime Minister reminded the people that it was Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel's birth anniversary on Monday. It is also the death anniversary of Indira Gandhi, he said.
"Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel worked to bring everyone together, he worked for unity, fought for unity and brought unity among people," said the PM.
However, he added, 'history remembers how Sikhs and 'Sardars' all over the country faced violence and pain - in an oblique reference to the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, which began immediately following then-PM Indira Gandhi's death on October 31.
During the last edition of the programme, the Prime Minister had said that nation's armed forces are fully equipped to foil any nefarious designs.
He said there are many opportunities to talk for political leaders and they do talk, but the Army does not talk, they speak through their valour.
Speaking on Swachhata Abhiyan, Prime Minister Modi had said the citizens have now become more aware on cleanliness.
