Friday, 02 November 2024 | PNS | DEHRADUN
In a gesture of expressing solidarity with the armed forces personnel, chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami celebrated Deepawali with the Jawans at Lansdowne cantonment on Thursday. The CM also attended a programme in the cantonment which is the headquarters of the Garhwal rifles.
The CM also paid tribute to the martyrs by offering a wreath at the war memorial. He said that soldiers stay away from their homes and are deployed in the security of the country and he is feeling fortunate and privileged to celebrate the festival of Deepawali with them. While addressing the army officers, soldiers and their families the CM said that festivals are celebrated only with the family members and therefore he visited Lansdowne on Deepawali.
“Staying away from your family on the day of the festival is in itself the pinnacle of duty. If the people of the country are celebrating Deepawali safely it is because of our soldiers, who are deployed on the country’s border. Despite being away from your family on this important festival, there is no lack in your enthusiasm. I am feeling immense happiness to be amongst the soldiers. I am also feeling energetic from your enthusiasm,’’ he said.
The CM said the State government has decided to increase the compensation given to the families of martyred soldiers from existing Rs 10 lakh to Rs 50 lakh. He said that earlier we used to buy weapons from foreign countries today under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India is becoming self-reliant in this field. Today more than 200 types of military equipment are being manufactured in our own country, he said.
Brigadier Vinod Singh Negi said that many welfare schemes of the State have been made keeping in mind the interests of the soldiers.
Lansdowne MLA Dilip Rawat, chairperson of Uttarakhand Gau Seva commission Rajendra Anthwal, District magistrate Ashish Chauhan, SSP Lokeshwar Singh, army officers and soldiers were present on the occasion.
