PM Modi Celebrates Diwali With Naval Personnel Aboard INS Vikrant, Hails Armed Forces’ Role In Operation Sindoor

Prime Minister Narendra Modi celebrated Diwali with armed forces personnel aboard INS Vikrant, India's first indigenously built aircraft carrier, off the coast of Goa and Karwar.

The visit continues his long-standing tradition since 2014 of spending the festival with soldiers serving in challenging conditions.

During his address to the troops, Prime Minister Narendra Modi described INS Vikrant as a testament to India’s growing defence capabilities and a powerful emblem of Aatmanirbhar Bharat, PTI reported.

He emphasised the coordination and synergy among India’s armed forces, crediting their joint effort for compelling Pakistan to surrender during Operation Sindoor.

Modi said India is “on the threshold of freedom from Maoist violence” and that “this freedom is knocking on our doors.”

He noted that the number of districts once affected by Maoist insurgency has drastically fallen — from 125 earlier to just 11 now.

“While 90 per cent success has been achieved, I'm confident that police forces will succeed in completely eliminating Maoist violence,” he said.

The prime minister reaffirmed his government’s ambition to make India a leading global defence exporter, highlighting that more than 40 warships and submarines have been built by Indian shipyards since 2014.

He cited the growing demand for the indigenous BrahMos missile system, remarking that “the name Brahmos strikes fear in some minds and now many countries are keen to buy these missiles.”

Reflecting on his experience aboard INS Vikrant, Modi said, “The night spent yesterday on INS Vikrant is hard to put into words. I saw the immense energy and enthusiasm you all were filled with. When I saw you singing patriotic songs yesterday, and the way you described Operation Sindoor in your songs, no words can ever fully convey the experience that a jawan feels standing on a battlefield.”

“My Diwali has been special as it was spent amongst you,” he concluded, praising the spirit and courage of the Indian armed forces.

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