Union Home Minister Amit Shah led the “Run for Unity” event in Delhi on October 29, marking National Unity Day, held annually to honor the legacy of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. Speaking at the event, Shah highlighted Patel’s integral role in unifying India’s princely states, calling him the architect of a unified nation. Shah said, “It is unfortunate that for years attempts were made to forget Sardar Patel. For years he was denied the honour of Bharat Ratna. But the country’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi has worked to keep the memory of Sardar Patel alive by installing the world’s tallest statue in Kevadia, Gujarat”.
The Run for Unity was rescheduled to October 29 this year, due to Diwali, and was flagged off from Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium, drawing 7,700 participants, including government officials, police personnel, and athletes. Shah explained the event’s importance, stating, “This Unity Run is not just a resolution for the unity of India; now the Unity Run has also become a resolution for a ‘Viksit Bharat.’” He emphasized that Prime Minister Modi’s vision of “Ek Bharat, Shreshth Bharat” reflects Patel’s ideals, aligning with the current government’s mission to transform India into a developed nation by 2047.
In Gujarat, Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel inaugurated a similar Run for Unity event at Sabarmati Riverfront in Ahmedabad, reflecting the nationwide celebrations. Chief Minister Patel paid tribute to Patel, saying, “The birth anniversary of Sardar Sahib, the iron man and the architect of unity of the country, will be celebrated in a grand manner throughout the year with the inspiration of Prime Minister Narendrabhai Modi.” He emphasized, “The Run for Unity is a symbol of integrity. Not only this, but this run also binds everyone together.” The Chief Minister noted that Sardar Patel’s legacy of unification underpins the ideals of National Unity Day, which has been celebrated since 2014 as a tribute to his contributions.
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Shah concluded his address by inviting all citizens to continue fostering unity, remarking, “Even during that time, anti-India forces left no stone unturned to keep the country divided. We have seen how Sardar Patel brought Junagarh, Jammu and Kashmir, and Hyderabad under the fold of the Union of India through his farsightedness and political acumen. Without Sardar Patel’s contribution and farsightedness, we would not have been here today.” With the Unity Run, Shah reiterated, the government is committed to realizing Patel’s vision and working toward “a strong, self-reliant and prosperous India” by 2047.
