People celebrated 'Choti Diwali' after surgical strikes: Modi in UP

Varanasi: Keeping alive the 'surgical strikes' issue ahead of state polls, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said people celebrated 'Choti Diwali' when the Army destroyed terrorist launch pads across LoC, and asked them not to forget valour of security forces.

Addressing a public rally after launching slew of projects in his Lok Sabha constituency, Modi asked citizens to also remember soldiers even when there are no sounds of firing of bullets and shelling on borders.

"When I saw on TV, read in newspapers and some locals informed me that residents of Kashi have celebrated choti Diwali. When the army displayed its valour on September 29, the entire Kashi witnessed celebrations.

"As your MP, I feel proud of the manner in which you paid tributes to valour of armed forces and expressed your support to them," he said.

The Prime Minister said that the nation has been able to convey to the armed forces that the entire country of 125 crore people is behind them. He asked countrymen to send Diwali greetings to security forces.

The greetings can be sent to security forces through an App which can be downloaded by giving a missed call on 1922.

"Security forces should always feel how proud we are about them," Modi said, adding that the nation should hail their valour and courage all time.

Referring to the initiatives of his government, Modi said "we are not a government whose work stops at laying foundation stones. It is ensured that the projects are also completed".

Schemes are not about publishing advertisements in newspapers, the real aim of initiatives is proper execution and touching people's lives, he added.

Modi launched seven projects, including a gas pipeline and power projects, involving an expenditure of Rs 5,000 crore.