This Diwali Is Dedicated To Armed Forces: PM Modi On Mann Ki Baat

Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the nation on the radio with "Mann Ki Baat". PM Modi, in his last Mann ki Baat edition, had paid tributes to the 19 soldiers who died in the Uri attack. He had sent out a strong message to Pakistan underscoring its support to terror. 

Here are the highlights:

• My warmest wishes to everyone for the happy festival of Diwali
• India's festivities are linked to one principle, to connect oneself to the higher being
• Our festivals are linked closely to the nature. The food, weather, everything about a festival is so symbiotic
• Festivals are fixed not just on the mood of the moon but also mood of the people
• From farmers harvest to well being, everything was linked to festivities by our ancestors
• All forms of darkness are to be fought with a "deep" of Diwali, we are eliminating all the darkness from inside us and the world around
• The world is speaking about environment today
• World leaders are celebrating Diwali and sharing their memories & pictures on different social media platforms
• US has issued a postal stamp for Diwali
• Canadian Prime Minister has shared a photo of him lighting a lamp
• British's primier hosted a reception for all sections of society
• New Zealand Prime Minister who was on an official visit to India said he had to leave early to participate in Diwali celebrations back home
• Even our holidays are connected to the universe and its science
• Diwali is a festival which is bringing people together
• You can go to any house in India, you will see people cleaning up their house in anticipation of Diwali
• But the need of the hour is not just to clean our house but also our neighbourhood
• Sometimes young people get carried away while lighting fireworks, they invite danger, this worries me
• I request parents to accompany their little kids when they are bursting crackers
• Diwali celebrations last in our country not just for one day, it goes on for a while
• Chhath puja is also a major festival. Every one hails the rising sun but Chhath puja celebrates the setting sun, there's a social message in this
• I also have to thank the citizens of the nation for their support & love for our security forces & jawans protecting us
• Our jawans have been sacrificing their lives from last few months. We should celebrate this Diwali in their name
• People from all walks of life sent messages of love and encouragement for our jawans, just as they light candles for their well being
• People from all walks of life sent messages of love & encouragement for our jawans, just as they light candles for their well being
• #Sandesh2Soldiers hashtag was used so much by everyone and we were flooded with well wishes & love for jawans from citizens
• They are standing for us in the desert, on the mountains, someone is guarding our industry, others our at airports
• This Diwali is dedicated to the armed forces. There is not a single child in the country who doesn't have respect and love for soldiers
• States are making good progress in becoming open-defecation free
• Kerala and Gujarat are doing a good job in becoming open-defecation free state
• There are many government schemes which are redundant. While we have gas subsidy, there is also subsidised kerosene
• Haryana is working hard to free itself from kerosene. This will save the government money but it will hurt the black marketers