- Celebrates Diwali with Navy Personnel off Goa Coast; Says India Nears Freedom from Maoist Terror
- Over 40 Warships Built Since 2014, ‘BrahMos Strikes Fear in Some Minds,’ Says Prime Minister
NE NEWS SERVICE
GOA, OCT 20
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday hailed the extraordinary coordination among India’s three armed services that, he said, “compelled Pakistan to surrender” during Operation Sindoor, underscoring the strength of jointmanship and the might of the Indian Armed Forces.
Addressing Navy personnel on board INS Vikrant, Modi described the indigenous aircraft carrier as “a towering symbol of Aatmanirbhar Bharat and 21st-century India’s hard work, talent and commitment.”
“The fear created by the Indian Navy, the skill of the Indian Air Force and the bravery of the Indian Army — the tremendous coordination of the three forces forced Pakistan to surrender so quickly in Operation Sindoor,” he said.
The Prime Minister, who celebrated Diwali with the sailors, said his festival this year was “special” because it was spent among those who guard the nation’s seas. “The night spent yesterday on INS Vikrant is hard to put into words. I saw the immense energy and enthusiasm you were filled with. When you sang patriotic songs and described Operation Sindoor in your voices, it was an experience beyond words,” he added.
INS Vikrant: Pride of Indian Shipbuilding
Built at an estimated cost of nearly ₹20,000 crore, the 262-metre-long INS Vikrant is India’s first indigenously constructed aircraft carrier, with a full displacement of about 45,000 tonnes — larger and more advanced than its predecessor.
“Vikrant is huge, vast, panoramic — outstanding and special. It reflects the capability of our armed forces and the strength of India’s shipbuilding sector,” Modi said, calling it a living testimony to India’s technological rise and maritime confidence.
Since 2014, he noted, more than 40 warships and submarines have been built by Indian shipyards, marking a decisive shift towards defence self-reliance.
India Nears End of Maoist Terror
In a significant domestic security remark, the Prime Minister declared that India is “on the threshold of freedom from Maoist violence.”
“Earlier, 125 districts were under the grip of Maoist terror; today, the number has come down to just 11. While 90 per cent success has been achieved, I am confident our police and security forces will eliminate Maoist violence completely,” he asserted.
Defence Exports and Global Recognition
Reaffirming his government’s resolve to make India one of the world’s leading defence exporters, Modi cited growing international interest in India-made systems such as the BrahMos missile.
“The name BrahMos strikes fear in some minds. Today, many nations want to buy these missiles. It is a mark of India’s technological credibility and deterrence capability,” he said, adding that indigenous weapons platforms have become symbols of national pride.
A Continuing Diwali Tradition
Since taking office in 2014, Modi has made it a tradition to celebrate Diwali with the armed forces — from the icy heights of Siachen Glacier in his first year, to the deserts of Longewala, the coasts of Sir Creek, and the Himalayan outposts of Harsil and Sumdo in later years.
Through these visits, the Prime Minister has repeatedly underlined that India’s peace and prosperity are secured by the courage and vigilance of its soldiers.
“My Diwali has been special as it was spent among you,” Modi told the sailors, closing his address amid cheers and chants of Bharat Mata Ki Jai.
