The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, today visited Sumdo near the India-China border, in Kinnaur district of Himachal Pradesh, to celebrate Diwali with the jawans.
He interacted with jawans from the ITBP and the Indian Army, and offered sweets to them.
Addressing the jawans, he said he had been visiting armed forces personnel every year on Diwali since 2001. He mentioned the tremendous response from people across the country, to his appeal for sending messages to soldiers as part of the #Sandesh2Soldiers campaign.
The Prime Minister said that giving One Rank One Pension to ex-servicemen was a promise that he had made, and he was happy that he had been able to fulfil it. The Chief of Army Staff, Gen. Dalbir Singh, was present on the occasion.
While returning from Sumdo, the Prime Minister halted briefly at a nearby village – Chango. He exchanged Diwali greetings, interacted with the people there, and offered sweets to children.