Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said a nation's economic growth is secured by the soldiers who dedicate their lives to protect the country's sovereignty.
Modi, while interacting with air force personnel at the Air Force base at Halwara this evening, said possibilities of economic progress become strong for a nation only when our jawans dedicate their life in securing us and making our security strong.
The PM, who was accompanied by Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha, arrived here after visiting war memorials related to the 1965 Indo-Pak war in Amritsar and Ferozepur districts. Halwara Air base saw action in that war.
Addressing the air force personnel, he said "the country was today celebrating Diwali, and people can live a secure life and sleep peacefully, which is possible when thousands of youths like you dedicate their life to protecting borders of this country."
The PM struck a chord with the air force personnel, who were standing at a distance, when he asked them to come closer to him saying, "there should be no gap between you and me."
Recalling his visit to the base with former Defence Minister George Fernandes, when he was a functionary in BJP and in-charge of party affairs of the State, he said "at that time, I did not know that I will get opportunity in this way to visit and meet you people."
He also told them that he had earlier today visited three places connected with 1965 war, where jawans made supreme sacrifices for their country.
Modi said there was a time when military might used to determine how powerful a nation was.
"Now, economy, information technology have also become parameters. Therefore, for a nation's progress, when security is strong, possibilities of economic progress are strong," he said.
