Prime Minister Narendra Modi, celebrated his Diwali this time with soldiers at border posts in Himachal Pradesh on Sunday. He also announced the same on his radio Mann Ki Baat meeting the soldiers on duty.

"They say you should celebrate Diwali with your people and that's why I have come here to celebrate Diwali with you all," he told soldiers of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) at the Sumdo forward post.

"We the people of India sleep peacefully because you guard our borders," he said.

Narendra Modi celebrated Diwali in 2014 with soldiers posted in Siachen. In 2015, he celebrated at the India-Pakistan border in Punjab.

With the increased enmity with Pakistan resulted in the death of around seven soldiers in the last one month. In this regard, the Prime Minister called asked India to always  remember the soldier's service.

He also spoke about the One Rank One Pension (OROP) scheme. This scheme was a longtime demand from the forces that was passed by the government this year.

"After I became the PM, and decided that I had to do (implement) it... It was not possible for the government to pay in one go, so I requested the ex-servicemen to accept it in four installments. Nearly, Rs. 5,500 crore has been paid as the first installment," PM Modi said.

Also Read: Modi’s election case, hearing on 15 November

BY M.DIVYA SRI