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The nation remembered Iron-man Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on his 144th birth anniversary also celebrated as the National Unity Day (Rashtriya Ekta Diwas).
Sardar Patel is credited for the merger of over 560 princely states into the Union of India.
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi paid tribute to Sardar Patel at the Statue of Unity and also visited Police Technology Exhibition in Kevadia, Gujarat.
Addressing the nation on the occasion the PM said, “I am happy that from today all the government employees of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh will be getting the benefits under the 7th Pay Commission as granted to the employees of other Union Territories”.
Article 370 only gave separatism and terrorism to J&K. It was the only place in the country where Article 370 was present, where in the last three decades, over 40,000 people got killed & several mothers lost their sons due to terrorism. Now, this wall of Article 370 has been demolished.
PM Shri Modi said Sardar Sahib always spoke about unity of purpose, unity of aim and unity of endeavour.
He said ‘Run for Unity’ program is being held in different cities & villages across the country today. I thank every citizen for participating in this program. India is known for ‘unity in diversity’; it is our pride and our identity.
Amit Shah Flags Off ‘Run for Unity’ to Commemorate Sardar Patel’s Birth Anniversary
Union Home Minister and BJP National President Shri Amit Shah on 31 October, 2019 flagged off the ‘Run for Unity’ to commemorate the 144th birth anniversary of the Iron-man Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel in New Delhi.
The ‘Run for Unity’, which began from the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium, saw the participation of a large number of people, including sports personalities, sports enthusiasts and personnel of central police forces among others.
The 1.5-km run in Delhi takes place at the India Gate C-Hexagon-Shah Jahan Road radial. People wearing white T-shirts and bearing Patel’s photo assembled at the national stadium and India Gate roundabout for the run.
The flag off also saw the presence of Union ministers Shri Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’, Shri Hardeep Singh Puri, Shri R K Singh, Shri Kiren Rijiju, Shri G Kishan Reddy, Delhi Lt Governor Shri Anil Baijal and home secretary Shri Ajay K Bhalla on the dais with the Union Home Minister.
Shri Amit Shah also administered a unity pledge to the participants of the run.
Earlier, the Home Minister visited Patel’s statue located at the national capital’s Patel Chowk and offered floral tributes.
The central government observes 31 October across the country as a day of special occasion to foster and reinforce the government’s dedication to preserve and strengthen unity, integrity and security of the nation by celebrating it as a ‘Rashtriya Ekta Diwas’ or National Unity Day to commemorate the birth anniversary of Sardar Patel.
Modi government has been observing Patel’s birth anniversary as ‘Ekta Diwas’ or National Unity Day since 2014.