PM Narendra Modi may spend Diwali with troops on China border today

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to celebrate Diwali 2017 with troops of the Indian Army and the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) on the China border in Uttarakhand on Thursday.

The PM today took to Twitter and extended Diwali greetings to the countrymen.

दीपावली के पावन पर्व पर सभी देशवासियों को हार्दिक शुभकामनाएं। #HappyDiwali to everyone! pic.twitter.com/pFQe9rYrSg — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 19, 2017

According to reports, the PM is also likely to visit the Kedarnath shrine in Uttarakhand on October 20 - his second visit in less than five months.

The PM is scheduled to visit the holy shrine a day after Diwali where he will inaugurate a number of projects including the temple protection wall which has been built to prevent 2013-like floods from hitting the temple devoted to Lord Shiva, media reports quoting government sources as saying.

However, there is no official confirmation yet regarding the PM's Kedarnath visit.

The PM had earlier visited the temple when its doors were opened for public after the winter break and is going there again on it's closure for the season.

With assembly polls scheduled in several states, PM Modi – an ardent devotee of Lord Shiva – is going there to seek divine blessings for his party's victory in the upcoming electoral battle. 

Modi may also use this occasion for inaugurating several projects, including the beautification of the complex, which will possibly be completed by the authorities in 2018. 

The PM had in past started and concluded many campaigns from Gujarat's famous Somnath temple.

BJP chief Amit Shah had recently held a meeting with all stakeholders, including Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat and Nehru Institute of Mountaineering chief Colonel Ajay Kothiyal regarding the timely completion of projects related to the shrine which was devastated by the 2013 floods.