NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi marked Diwali by likening the decision to launch Operation Sindoor to retaliate against Pakistan over Pahalgam terror attack to Lord Ram’s fight against Ravana to avenge injustice. “Lord Shri Ram teaches us to uphold righteousness and also gives us the courage to fight injustice. We saw a living example of this a few months ago during Operation Sindoor. During Operation Sindoor, Bharat not only upheld righteousness but also avenged injustice,” PM said in a letter he addressed to citizens to greet them on Diwali.Modi said India has emerged as a symbol of both stability and sensitivity in a world going through multiple crises, while also highlighting the success against Maoists and benefits to people following GST rate cuts.This Diwali was particularly special because lamps were lit in many districts where Naxalism and Maoist terrorism have been rooted out, PM said.”In recent times, we have seen many individuals abandoning the path of violence and joining the mainstream of development, expressing faith in the Constitution of our country. This is a major achievement for the nation.”The success of Operation Sindoor was also one of the highlights of the prime minister’s interaction with Navy personnel aboard the aircraft carrier INS Vikrant. A group of naval warriors sang a song composed by them to laud the three services for their performance against Pakistan in the short military conflict with Pakistan, with the prime minister and navy chief Dinesh Tripathy leading the applause. In the letter, that went out on Diwali and its eve, Modi called upon people to light lamps of harmony, cooperation and positivity in society, stressing that the festival teaches that when one lamp lights another, its light doesn’t diminish but grows further.He asked people to fulfil their duties towards the nation in its journey towards self-reliance and development. “Let us adopt swadeshi and proudly say this is swadeshi. Let us promote the spirit of ‘Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat’. Let us respect all languages. Let us maintain cleanliness. Let us prioritise our health. Let us reduce the use of oil in our food by 10% and embrace Yoga,” he said.The PM noted that Diwali this year was the second after the construction of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya.In this festival period, citizens are saving thousands of crores due to “GST Bachat Utsav”, he said, in a reference to the rate cuts on an array of items from products of daily use to consumer durables.
