Ekta Nagar (Gujarat): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday paid floral tributes to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel at the Statue of Unity in Gujarat to mark the 150th birth anniversary of India’s first Deputy Prime Minister. The day has been observed as Rashtriya Ekta Diwas (National Unity Day) every year since 2014, when Modi first assumed office as Prime Minister.
Arriving early in the morning at the 182-metre-tall Statue of Unity in Narmada district’s Ekta Nagar, Modi offered flower petals at the feet of the Iron Man of India. Following the tribute, he proceeded to a nearby venue to administer the Ekta Diwas pledge to attendees and witness the grand National Unity Day parade.
This year’s celebrations are particularly significant as the parade has been organised on the lines of the Republic Day parade in New Delhi. The Rashtriya Ekta Diwas Parade, a key highlight of the event, features marching contingents from paramilitary forces such as the Border Security Force (BSF) and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), along with various state police units.
In addition to the parade, the day’s events include a cultural festival celebrating India’s unity in diversity. The occasion aims to honour Sardar Patel’s pivotal role in uniting the nation and to reinforce the spirit of national integrity and collective strength.
