Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah flagged off the 'Run for Unity' in New Delhi today, organized on the occasion of 'Rashtriya Ekta Diwas'—marking the 151st birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. On this occasion, Union Home Minister also administered the 'Unity Pledge' to the citizens of the country. Several dignitaries were present at the event, including Delhi Lieutenant Governor Shri Taranjit Singh Sandhu, Union Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, Chief Minister of Delhi Smt. Rekha Gupta, and Union Ministers of State for Home Affairs Shri Nityanand Rai and Shri Bandi Sanjay Kumar.
In his address on this occasion, Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah said that ever since Shri Narendra Modi became the Prime Minister of the country, we have been observing the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel as 'Rashtriya Ekta Diwas'. Today marks the 151st birth anniversary of Sardar Sahab. He was a great personality who not only transformed the history of India but also shaped its very geography. By undertaking the arduous task of uniting numerous princely states and royal domains, Sardar Sahab created the map of the unified India we see today. He said that Sardar Sahab not only made successful efforts toward the geographical, political, and cultural integration of India but also brought the nation together, binding it into a single, cohesive entity.
Shri Amit Shah said that when the country attained independence, the world predicted that India would disintegrate. In just 1,218 days following independence, Sardar Patel accomplished what many deemed impossible by forging a united India. Today, the India envisioned by Sardar Patel stands proudly before the world.
Union Home Minister said that on March 31st this year, the country got rid of Naxalism and is now progressing on the path to becoming a drug-free nation. He emphasized that the creation of a drug-free India is the foundational step toward the Prime Minister Modi’s vision of a 'Viksit Bharat'. He said that significant milestones have been achieved during Prime Minister Modi’s tenure—such as the abrogation of Article 370, which permanently integrated Kashmir into India; the eradication of Naxalism; and the implementation of a unified tax system. Shri Shah said that the realization of a drug-free India would be the most significant achievement of all—one that would profoundly benefit the nation's youth and its future.
Shri Amit Shah said that the linguistic, cultural, and traditional diversity of our country is not our weakness, but strength. He said that this was the message of Sardar Patel, and it is the path we must continue to follow. Our linguistic, cultural, and religious diversity is our power. Through dialogue, trust, and an inclusive mindset, we have built a shared national identity over the past 80 years. While our languages, attire, cultural beliefs, and religions may differ, our nation has always remained united.
Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation said that the reconstruction of the Somnath Temple served as an experience of civilizational and national resurgence. It was Sardar Patel who envisioned the construction of the Somnath Temple. Today, under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, the initiatives of 'Make in India' and 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' are guiding us toward attaining a top position among the world's economies.
Shri Amit Shah said that Sardar Sahab did not get the recognition he deserved for his contributions for many years. The opposition always attempted to erase the memory of Sardar Sahab, but just as the light of the sun cannot be concealed, his legacy could not be suppressed. He said that when Shri Narendra Modi was the Chief Minister of Gujarat, he commissioned the 'Statue of Unity'—a towering monument—thereby presenting the stature of Sardar Sahab’s great personality to the entire nation. Shri Shah said that today, from that very location, Prime Minister Modi will take the salute at a parade of police forces from across the country, conveying a message of national unity.