In a letter to Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Shah wrote on Sunday, “The celebration of Rashtriya Ekta Diwas has a special significance this year, as it marks the completion of the task of making Jammu & Kashmir, and Ladakh an integral part of India by abrogating Article 370. In a true sense, this represents the realisation of the dream of Sardar Patel for an integrated India.”
The Ekta Diwas Parade will see participation from jawans of State Reserve Police Force (SRPF), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), National Security Guards (NSG), Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), Gujarat police and Jammu and Kashmir police. Modi will later visit a technology demonstration site and interact with civil service probationers at Kevadiya.
Chief Minister Vijay Rupani will also flag off Run for Unity in Ahmedabad city at Shahibaug Police Stadium in the morning. Since 2014, October 31 is observed as the National Unity Day and people from all walks of life participate in the “Run For Unity”.
The Home Ministry has asked for a series of special events to be organised across the country on Thursday. Chief among these will be the first National Unity Day parade at Kevadiya in Gujarat, at the site of the Statue of Unity — the 182-m-tall statute of Patel, inaugurated last year by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Police forces of each state, Union Territory and Central Armed Police Forces will participate in the parade.
In addition, all district administrations have been directed to organise a ‘Run for Unity’ and pay tributes to Patel.
Meanwhile, Hardik Patel will also hold two public programmes in Patan district of North Gujarat to celebrate Sardar Patel’s birth anniversary. The programme is jointly organised by Hardik-led Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti and four other organisations.
Patel will carry out a public rally – Sardar Ekta Yatra – from Lanava village of Patan district that will pass through villages like Pindharpur, Palasar, Shelavi and Manud. Patel will also address a public gathering at Manud.
PM Modi in a group photograph with Probationary Officers at Statue of Unity in Kevadia, Gujarat. (Source: Twitter/PIB)
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PM Modi addresses IAS Probationers event in Kevadiya: "It is the need of the hour that the districts of the country compete within themselves for financial independence. The more the district goes ahead, it will push the State ahead. Its direct impact will help the GDP of the entire country."
"It falls upon our shoulders to make the lives of the people of India easier. We must work pro-actively for it. We must ensure that no common Indian needs to fight with the Govt in his daily routine," he said.
"You should take one big problem of society and try to solve it at one time. 'One District, One Problem & Total Solution' should be your ideology. Your decision must help and fulfil the needs of the man standing on the last step of the society, as guided by Gandhi Ji," Modi said in Kevadia.
While addressing a programme at Statue of Unity, Modi said: "Your decision must strengthen the unity and integrity of the country. Whatever decision you take may well have a regional or local viewpoint, but the perspective must be national. The decisions that you make will be for your district or area, but you must also gauge its contribution to nation-building."
Addressing in Kevadia, PM Modi said: "India is growing and changing rapidly. We have enough resources, young people, modern technological support and such other facilities. You need to use these services well to help raise the ability of the nation. This isn't just a job or a career option for you. Service should be your prime objective. Every action you take, every signature you make will affect lakhs of lives."
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the integration of Civil Services will begin Thursday, calling it a reform.
"The integration of Civil Services begins today. It is a reform in itself. I want to congratulate all administrators and partners associated with this. A creative, constructive, imaginative, innovative, proactive, polite, professional, progressive, energetic, enabling, transparent, tech-enabled, efficient and effective bureaucracy is important to take India to the next level," the PM said while addressing a gathering at the Statue of Unity in Kevadia, Gujarat.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh administered a national unity pledge to senior military officers and civilian officials of his ministry on Thursday on the occasion of the 144th birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. Army Chief Gen Bipin Rawat, Vice Chief of Navy Vice Admiral G Ashok Kumar, Defence Secretary Ajay Kumar, Secretary (Ex-servicemen welfare) Sanjeevanee Kutty, Secretary (Defence Finance) Gargi Kaul, and other officials took part in the event. The defence ministry in a statement said, remembering the architect of united modern India, Singh along with the officials took a vow to preserve the "unity, integrity and security of the nation". (PTI)
West Bengal Chief Ministe Mamata Banerjee on Thursday paid tributes to Sarda Vallabhbhai Patel on his birth anniversary and urged th people to work together to build a strong and united India.
Thousands of participants of the 'Run for Unity' on Thursday braved bad air quality in the city as they made their way through a smoky haze. The run was flagged off by Home Minister Amit Shah from the national stadium shortly after 7 am. While the participants comprising sportspersons, enthusiasts, and CRPF personnel wore uniform white T-shirts with a photo of Patel embossed on it, none were seen using a face mask. The flag off also saw the presence of Union ministers Ramesh Pokhriyal 'Nishank', Hardeep Singh Puri, R K Singh, Kiren Rijiju, G Kishan Reddy, Delhi Lt Governor Anil Baijal and Union Home Secretary Ajay K Bhalla on the dais with the home minister. The national capital and its adjoining areas remained shrouded in a toxic haze for the fourth consecutive day on Thursday as air quality remained in a severe category. (PTI)
Union Minister Smriti Irani participates in the 'Run for Unity' event in Amethi
Watch: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman walks through a flooded road during the walkathon in Chennai
Nirmala Sitharaman participates in a walkathon in Tamil Nadu
"Even today many anti-India forces are active. For their benefit, they are constantly plotting to break the country on the basis of caste, religion, region and language. Expose such forces. This was done by Sardar Patel as the first Home Minister of the country": UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.
"For the integrity and unity of the country, people should know about the importance of Sardar Patel ji, his great personality and the work done by him for the country," says Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath
UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath flags off 'Run for Unity' event in Lucknow
PM Modi attends the Police Technology Exhibition in Kevadia.
Business As Usual - J&K, Ladakh officially divided into two Union Territories
"Patel was a stalwart," tweets PM Modi
"The physical and emotional connectivity between the NorthEast and Rest of India was questioned on several occasions in the past. That situation has changed. The problems that stood for decades have headed towards getting solved," says PM Modi
Union Home Minister Amit Shah Thursday said that Article 370 and Article 35A were the gateway of terrorism into Jammu and Kashmir, and added that Prime Minister Narendra Modi closed the gate by abrogating both of them. “It had been 70 years, but no one found it appropriate to even touch Article 370 and Article 35A. In 2019, the country chose PM Modi, and August 5 is the day when both these Articles were revoked, paving way for Sardar Patel’s unfulfilled dream,” Shah was speaking at the ‘Run for Unity’ event at Delhi’s Major Dhyanchand stadium on the occasion of Rashtriya Ekta Diwas to commemorate the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhai Patel. Read more
"I had promised the people of J&K that I will provide them with the facilities provided to Govt employees of every UT in August. Today, the benefits of the 7th Pay Commission has been extended to J&K and Ladakh as well," says PM Modi
From today, Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh will walk towards a new future, on the birth anniversary of the Iron Man of India: PM Modi
"Jammu and Kashmir was the only state with Article 370, the only state where terrorism killed more than 40,000 people in the past decades. We were divided by a wall. But, Sardar Patel's dream is now fulfilled, the wall has been demolished by us," says PM Modi on Article 370
"We, 130 crore Indians, must stay united to fight against such anti-Indian forces. This will be the rightful tribute to Sardar Patel. With his blessings, we abrogated Article 370 to free Kashmir from divisiveness and terrorism. I dedicate the August 5 decision of abrogation of Article 370 to Sardar Vallabhai Patel on his birthday today. We are lucky that we could fulfill his incomplete dreams. Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir are now marching towards development and prosperity," says PM Modi.
"India's unity and diversity is the biggest challenge for every rival of India. A lot of people and passed away. There has been something about us that has galvanized us together for ages. Those who can't win wars against us are trying to divide us. They are questioning and challenging our unity. They forget that even after years of such attempts, no one has been able to defeat our unity in diversity": PM Modi
"Today the entire world hears what India has to say with attention. Our tradition, our diversity and our heritage is our strength that has made this possible. Today, India is becoming one of the world's financial superpowers, finding its rightful place," says PM Modi in Gujarat.
The ‘Rashtriya Ekta Diwas’ or the National Unity Day is celebrated on October 31, which is the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel — an Indian politician who played an instrumental role in India’s struggle for independence, and later during the integration of the country. In 2014, when a new government formed at the Centre, it was decided that October 31 be celebrated as Rashtriya Ekta Diwas — an announcement that was made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Announcing the observance, the Ministry of Home Affairs had said in a press release that the “occasion will provide an opportunity to reaffirm the inherent strength and resilience of our nation to withstand the actual and potential threats to the unity, integrity, and security of our country.” Read more
"When Sardar Patel started to unify over 500 unions under the Republic of India, it was this nationalistic feeling that drew these divided states or princes together. These princely states had a feeling of nationalism & Indianness, even after decades of British rule. The British wanted India to fall through after we gained independence. Sardar Patel, on the other hand, defeated all divisive forces and united the entire region under the Indian Union," says PM Modi
"We, the People of India' isn't just a few words or the beginning of our Constitution. It places the cultural tradition and unity of India that has been going on for ages rightfully in the Constitution from Dr. BR Ambedkar": PM Modi in Gujarat
"When we treat our diverse cuisine and dresses as our rich heritage, it adds to our feeling of national affinity. When we celebrate the festivals from different regions, it adds to their happiness and fills more color to the delight": PM Modi
"The celebration of diversity is a way to show our unity. When we feel proud of our country's different languages, it gives us an emotional bond. We should always celebrate diversity": PM Modi in Gujarat
'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," says Prime Minister Narendra Modi
Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar flags off 'Run for Unity' event in Panchkula
Dharmendra Pradhan participates in the 'Run for Unity' event in Odisha's Bhubaneswar
Maharashtra Governor and Devendra Fadnavis flag off the 'Run for Unity' event in Mumbai
PM Modi administers pledge in Gujarat's Kevadia
President Ram Nath Kovind pays tributes to Sardar Vallabhai Patel on his 144th birth anniversary.
President Ram Nath Kovind and Home Minister Amit Shah pay their tributes to Sardar Patel at his statue in Delhi's Patel Chowk.
Gujarat: Celebrations underway at Statue of Unity
Watch: Prime Minister Narendra Modi pays tributes to Sardar Vallabhai Patel on his 144th birth anniversary in Gujarat's Kevadia.