Prime Minister Narendra Modi paying tribute to Sardar Patel at the Statue of Unity in Gujarat. (Photo:ANI)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid floral tribute to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on his 144th birth anniversary at the Statue of Unity in Kevadia in Gujarat.

Speaking at the event organised on the Rashtriya Ekta Diwas, PM Modi credited Patel for unification and said diversity is our strength, not weakness. "Centuries ago India was united by Chanakya, and after that Sardar Patel did it. No country embraces diversity like India. Our unity is the best tribute we can pay to Sardar Patel," PM Modi said.

Raking up Article 370, PM Modi dedicated its abrogation to Sardar Patel. "Article 370 is a wall that has gone now," PM Modi said.

Gujarat: PM Modi administers unity pledge in Kevadia on the 144th birth anniversary of #SardarVallabhbhaiPatel. #RashtriyaEktaDiwas https://t.co/XJDnfVMe6V pic.twitter.com/VMmCReuW42 ANI (@ANI) October 31, 2019

PM Modi also hit out at Pakistan on Ekta Diwas and said India’s enemies are upset by the country’s unity. "Those who cannot win wars against us are trying to destroy our unity. Even after trying for centuries, nobody could annihilate us or defeat us," the PM said.

Modi government has been observing Patel's birth anniversary as 'Ekta Diwas' or National Unity Day since 2014.

On Thursday morning, President Ram Nath Kovind, Union Home Minister Amit Shah among others paid tributes to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on his birth anniversary in Delhi.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday flagged off a run to commemorate the 144th birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel in the national capital.

Check out more photos of National Unity Day on Indiacontent.in

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.

As the 'Run for Unity' event marked the beginning, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to attend a host of events in Ahmedabad. Among other programmes, PM Modi will participate in the 'Ekta Diwas Parade' and later will interact with civil service probationers.

Around 10 am, PM Modi will Technology Demonstration Site and participate in discussions and demonstrations on police modernisation, the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) tweeted.

The meeting will be followed by a cultural programme which will take place between 3:30 pm to 4:30 pm. Marking an end to his visit, PM Modi is scheduled to arrive in Vadodra at 5 pm from where he will emplane to New Delhi.

On Thursday morning, PM Modi paid his tribute to Sardar Patel. "Tributes to the great Sardar Patel on his Jayanti. His contribution to our nation is monumental," he tweeted.

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Tributes to the great Sardar Patel on his Jayanti. His contribution to our nation is monumental. pic.twitter.com/DMS8rN9Jbp Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 31, 2019

'Run for Unity event' on National Unity Day

Since 2014, October 31 is observed as National Unity Day and people from all walks of life participate in the Run For Unity across the country. This year too, the tradition follows.



Services on Delhi Metro will begin early on Thursday to facilitate people taking part in the 'Run for Unity', officials said. The event will be flagged off by Home Minister Amit Shah from the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium in Delhi.

"To facilitate people taking part in the 'Run for Unity' on 31 October 2019, Metro services will begin at 4 AM from terminal stations of all lines and will run with a frequency of 30 minutes till 6 am. Thereafter, services will continue as per normal timetable throughout the day," the DMRC tweeted on Wednesday.

According to Delhi Traffic Police, around 15,000 participants are expected to take part in the event and the programme is likely to cause traffic congestion at the C-Hexagon, India Gate, and nearby areas.

In Uttar Pradesh, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath will also flag off the "Run for Unity" to mark the occasion, a senior state government official said. Director (Information) Shishir said that the run would start from the statue of Patel located near the Hazratganj GPO and culminate at KD Singh Babu Stadium.

In his latest "Mann ki Baat" radio address, PM Modi had urged people to participate in large numbers in the 'Run For Unity'.

'Run for Unity' is a symbol of unison and shows that the country is moving in one direction and collectively aims for "Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat", PM Modi had said.

Photographs of Sardar Patel to be installed in all UP police stations

To mark the birth anniversary of India's first deputy prime minister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, his photographs will be installed at all police stations, an official said, adding that along with the photograph, a message will also be sent so that the public and police personnel could draw inspiration from it.

Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Awaneesh Awasthi on Wednesday said, "At 11 am on October 31, an oath-taking ceremony will be held on the occasion of the Ekta Diwas at all police stations, police lines and police offices in the state. Subsequently, photographs of Sardar Patel will be installed there."

(With inputs from Himanshu Mishra and PTI)