Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday compared India's "surgical strikes" along the border to the celebration of "Chhoti Diwali". His remarks about the Indian Army's September 29 operation were made at a rally in his constituency of Varanasi, in the run-up to the elections in Uttar Pradesh. "Chhoti Diwali" is a part of Diwali celebrations marking the victory of good over evil.
The prime minister reiterated his call for citizens to send Diwali messages to security personnel across the country. Modi said Indians need to express their support and pride in their security forces. The Prime Minister's Office on October 23 launched an campaign called, #Sandesh2Soldiers, asking people to send their wishes to soldiers.
Several people, including Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav have criticised the Centre for "politicising the deaths" of Army personnel in the surgical strikes.
India has said that there has been an increase in ceasefire violations after it carried out surgical strikes on “terror launchpads” along the Line of Control on September 29. Officials reported breaches on October 3, 4 and 5 along the border in the region. On September 18, militants had attacked an Indian Army installation in Uri, killing 19 soldiers. India had accused Pakistan of being involved in the attack, but Islamabad has called the allegations as “baseless”.
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