PM will lead the nation in paying tributes

The Centre has asked States to observe the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on a grander scale this year.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lead the nation in paying tributes to the country’s first Home Minister. He would offer floral tributes at the statue of Patel in Delhi, followed by administering pledge and flagging off the ‘Run for Unity’, Additional Secretary in the Home Ministry Praveen Kumar Srivastava said on Monday.

Home Minister Rajnath Singh had written to Chief Ministers and Union Ministers to organise the pledge, run for unity and the march on the occasion, he said.

“October 31 is observed as a day of special occasion to foster and reinforce the government’s dedication to preserve and strengthen unity, integrity and security of our nation by celebrating it as a ‘Rashtriya Ekta Diwas’ to commemorate the birth anniversary of Sardar Patel,” Mr. Srivastava said.

The 1.5 km ‘Run’ in Delhi will start from the National Stadium, where a large number of people, including sports personalities like P.V. Sindhu, Mithali Raj and Sardar Singh, are expected to take part. States were asked to encourage college and school students to participate in the national unity day events.

Mr. Srivastava said around 15,000 people participated in the event in Delhi last year and the number would go up as the government planned greater public participation this year.