Modi's letter to citizens: 'Operation Sindoor reflected Lord Ram’s fight against injustice'

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in a letter to citizens on the occasion of Diwali, said Lord Rama’s teachings of righteousness and fighting injustice came alive in Operation Sindoor which India conducted against Pakistan-based terrorists.

Extending Diwali greetings, the PM also said that the lights of the festival would, for the first time, shine in homes where naxal terror had been rooted out.

He said India was on track to becoming the world’s third largest economy and was a symbol of stability amid global crises.

“This is the second Deepavali after the grand construction of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. Lord Shri Ram teaches us to uphold righteousness and also gives us the courage to fight injustice. We have seen a living example of this a few months ago during Operation Sindoor. During Operation Sindoor, Bharat not only upheld righteousness but also avenged injustice,” the PM wrote.

He said this Deepavali was particularly special because, for the first time, lamps will be lit in many districts across the country, including remote areas.

“These are the districts where Naxalism and Maoist terrorism have been eradicated from the root. In recent times, we have seen many individuals abandoning the path of violence and joining the mainstream of development, expressing faith in the Constitution of our country. This is a major achievement for the nation,” the PM noted.

He said the country had also embarked on next-generation reforms in recent days and on the first day of Navratri, lower GST rates had been implemented. During this "GST Bachat Utsav" (Savings Festival), citizens were saving thousands of crores of rupees, the PM added.

Stressing Indian economic resilience, Modi  said in a world going through multiple crises, Bharat had emerged as a symbol of both stability and sensitivity and was on track to become the third-largest economy in the world in the near future.

Again batting for self-reliance, he said that in the journey of a "viksit (developed) and "aatmanirbhar Bharat" (self-reliant India), everyone’s primary responsibility is to fulfill duties towards the nation.

“Let us adopt ‘swadeshi’ (local products) and proudly say: "This is Swadeshi!" Let us promote the spirit of ‘Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat’. Let us respect all languages. Let us maintain cleanliness. Let us prioritise our health. Let us reduce the use of oil in our food by 10 per cent and embrace yoga. All these efforts will rapidly move us towards a ‘Viksit Bharat’,” said Modi.

He also said Deepavali taught people that when one lamp lights another, its light doesn't diminish, but grows further.

“With the same spirit, let us light lamps of harmony, cooperation and positivity in our society and surroundings this Deepavali,” the PM said.