‘Raaton ki neend uda di’: PM Modi showers praise on INS Vikrant during Diwali visit with Indian Navy | WATCH

Goa: Prime Minister Narendra Modi celebrated Diwali 2025 with Indian Navy personnel aboard the indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikrant, hailing it as a symbol of India’s maritime might and strategic resolve.

Addressing sailors on board, the Prime Minister recalled the ship’s psychological impact on adversaries during recent military operations, declaring, “We saw a few months back how Vikrant, only through its name, gave sleepless nights to Pakistan — Pakistan ki raaton ki neend uda di thi.”

He called INS Vikrant “not just a warship, but a living embodiment of 21st-century India’s strength, determination, and global presence.”

Diwali with the defenders of the seas

Continuing his tradition of celebrating Diwali with the armed forces, PM Modi spent the festival aboard INS Vikrant, docked off the coast of Goa and Karwar. He praised the bravery and discipline of the naval personnel, calling them the soul of India’s sea power.

“These formidable ships, swift aircraft, and stealthy submarines are impressive, yet it is your valour that transforms them into living instruments of power. Crafted from iron, they become invincible weapons with you aboard,” Modi said, drawing applause from the deck.

Reflecting on his overnight stay on the carrier, PM Modi shared a deeply personal sentiment: “The night I spent here defies description. The energy, patriotism, and fervour -- particularly when you sang of Operation Sindoor -- captured the true essence of a warrior on the battlefield.”

His remarks underscored the emotional bond he shares with the armed forces, a theme reinforced by his heartfelt Diwali message: “I am privileged to celebrate this sacred festival amongst you, my brave naval family, who safeguard India’s maritime frontiers.”

Commissioned in September 2022, INS Vikrant stands as India’s first home-built aircraft carrier, a 45,000-tonne behemoth capable of deploying over 30 aircraft, including MiG-29K fighters and an array of helicopters.

Equipped with cutting-edge radar, electronic warfare systems, and a ski-jump deck, it anchors a formidable carrier battle group comprising frigates, submarines, and support vessels. This “mobile war centre” projects India’s power far beyond its shores, serving as a linchpin in the nation’s maritime strategy.

The carrier’s deployment in the Arabian Sea has sent ripples through Pakistan’s defence establishment, with its ability to monitor and strike targets up to 400 km away posing a direct challenge to strategic assets like Karachi and Gwadar ports.

PM Modi’s presence aboard Vikrant, coupled with his pointed references to Operation Sindoor, has been interpreted as a resolute signal to Islamabad, reinforcing India’s readiness to assert its naval supremacy.

PM Modi not only bolstered the morale of the Navy but also projected India’s self-reliance in defence manufacturing to the world. The event underscored the nation’s shift towards maritime dominance in the Indo-Pacific, a region of growing geopolitical significance.

With IANS inputs