New Delhi: In his 25th edition of 'Mann Ki Baat' radio talk, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday saluted the valour of the armed forces and lauded their sacrifice while dedicating the festival of Diwali to them.


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Expressing his gratitude towards military personnel, Modi credited the soldiers for maintenance of peace and security in the country and called upon everyone to remember their gallantry while celebrating Diwali.


"In the wake of recent events, our soldiers have been sacrificing their everything for the safety and security of the country. Their dedication and labour has overwhelmed me completely. Let us dedicate this Diwali to our armed forces,” PM Modi said.


While speaking on Mann Ki Baat, he lauded the troops for their love and sacrifice for the country. "Every citizen of the country is proud of our soldiers."


Modi also said that the #Sandesh2Soldiers hashtag was used by a lot of people. "I had invited everyone to participate in the Sandesh2Soldiers campaign and I have been humbled by the response. From students, villagers and traders to political leaders and sports persons , everyone has sent a Diwali message for our soldiers," he said while referring to the jawans who are stationed in deserts and on the icy heights of the Himalayas and security personnel who are guarding our industries and airports.


"Our forces endure grave hardships for our security. Someone is stationed in a desert, someone on the Himalayas, someone is guarding our industrial installations and someone is protecting our airports. Everyone is fulfilling a mighty responsibility. If we remember them while being in a festive mood, our remembrance will give them strength and renewed energy. I thank everyone for responding to Sandesh2Soldiers," Modi said in over half-an-hour address on the occasion of Diwali.


Modi also urged all citizens and state governments to find ways of forging unity across the country and working to defeat separatist tendencies and mentalities.


In the wake of ongoing troubles in the Kashmir Valley, he said, "Unity in diversity is our strength. It is the responsibility of every citizen and all governments to forge unity and curb separatist tendencies to save the country."


While wishing the nation in his monthly radio programme on the occasion of Diwali, he said Diwali is a festival associated with cleanliness.


PM Modi said the festival is a marker of "swachhta" with every family taking it upon themselves to clean their house. The PM, however said, "The call of time is to extend this campaign of cleanliness out of one's house to one's surroundings."


He urged people to mark Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel's birth anniversary and remembered the anti-Sikh riots of 1984.


"Tomorrow we are celebrating Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel's birth anniversary. He worked to bring everyone together, he worked for unity, fought for unity and brought unity amongst people and we all must remember it," Modi said in his monthly radio address "Mann Ki Baat".


Modi also said, "History remembers how Sikh people and 'sardars' all over the country faced violence and pain" after October 31 when prime minister Indira Gandhi was assassinated.


PM Modi also remembered Guru Nanak and how his life and teachings hold message for the people of today.


The PM also took the occasion to note how the Indian festivals are environment friendly and urged parents to stand with their children as the latter burn crackers today.