The Union Minister, Pradesh Kiren Rijiju, who was celebrating Diwali with jawans in the border area of Bumla in Arunachal Pradesh on Thursday, had a brief encounter with Chinese troops on the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
"Diwali with brave jawans at Border in Bumla, Arunachal Pradesh. #HappyDeepavali2024 #Diwali," posted the Union Minister on X.
One indigenous person from Arunachal Pradesh, Rijiju, was seen shaking hands with Chinese soldiers and at times even posing for some photographs taken by them, besides entering the conference room where senior commanders of the two sides hold talks.
He inspired the jawans during the festival celebration, saying, "PM Modi has been celebrating Diwali with the jawans. And I have also been celebrating Diwali amongst the jawans since 2014. If you are away from your families, why should we be celebrating the festival with our families? That is why we come to celebrate Diwali with you," one of the videos on his X handle said.
He also left a tag containing his name and date of visit in a place designated to one at a point within the military post.
Initially, Prime Minister Narendra Modi can be spotted celebrating the lights festival along with personnel from BSF, Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force in the Sir Creek area, Gujarat's Kutch.
PM Modi was witnessed distributing some sweets to the personnel while participating in celebrations at Lakki Nala, near Sir Creek, which is a far flung and tough border point and is part of creek channel of Sir Creek at the starting point of the creek border with Pakistan.
This is an area characterized by marshy terrain, posing a challenge to patrol operations and the keen attention that is always accorded the BSF. It has Sir Creek, an infamous 96-kilometre disputed border territory, across which India and Pakistan face one another; it has seen several drug smugglers and terrorists attempt to sneak across into India, only for the BSF and, specifically, its crack unit Crocodile Commandos, to be in wait.
According to sources, during his visit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi commended the BSF troopers on their resolve to make country borders safer and more secure in trying circumstances. As per further sources, while interacting with the troops, the Prime Minister sought feedback on whether there was any change in the environment for them and whether they can be exempted from any one of the duties being given out to reduce their burdens, sources informed.
PM Modi spent the afternoon at the creek with troops, who personally went door to door and gave instructions. He then flew away to Bhuj after doing this. He observes a ritual that he follows for the past nine years straight ever since 2014 during which he had, through an impromptu gesture, paid his respects at the Siachen Glacier during Diwali, where he made appearances at all border points deployed by soldiers. This demonstrates how much he thanks his country's armed forces towards securing it.
The celebration last year was in Lepcha in Himachal Pradesh, close to the border with China, among the soldiers.
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