Prime Minister Narendra Modi to celebrate Diwali with army jawans in Rajouri today

Continuing with the tradition, which he started since he took office in 2014, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to celebrate Diwali with soldiers this year too, sources said.  Every year, Modi celebrates Diwali with soldiers since he took the office in 2014.

The prime minister, who lit diyas with army soldiers at the Longewala border in Rajasthan’s Jaisalmer last year, will visit Jammu and Kashmir this time and will head to Nowshera, Rajouri border post on the Line of Control (LoC) on Thursday, top government sources added.

The prime minister’s visit to Nowshera, Rajouri comes in the backdrop of the ongoing encounter in Poonch. The epicenter of the Poonch encounter — Bhimber Gali — entered its 24th day on Wednesday.

The Indian Express reproted that Army Chief General MM Naravane will accompany the Prime Minister to Rajouri on Thursday.

Officials said Modi's presence will lift the morale of the jawans on the ground and at the same time give a message that India’s top leadership will not be deterred by Pakistan’s attempt to send in more terrorists.

Ahead of Modi’s visit, Naravane arrived Jammu on Wednesday on a two-day visit and carried out aerial reconnaissance of forward areas in the Jammu region.

This is his second visit to the Jammu division in the past two weeks amid an ongoing operation against terrorists in a forest belt in twin districts of Poonch and Rajouri.

General Naravane arrived in Jammu on a two-day visit to review the security situation and operational preparedness, and immediately flew to Rajouri district, the officials said.

The ADGPI said the chief of Army staff carried out an aerial reconnaissance of forward areas in the Jammu region and was also briefed by the commanders on ground on the prevailing security situation along the LoC.

With inputs from CNN-News18