In his virtual speech on the occassion of the Rashtriya Ekta Divas or National Unity Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi remarked that the country has gained freedom from age-old rules in seven years before that.
On the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhai Patel, celebrations were held at the Statue of Unity in Kevadia on Sunday.
“All of the country’s decades-old hereditary laws have been abolished in the last seven years. It has resulted in India’s unification. Today, every corner of the nation is headed towards development, whether it’s Jammu and Kashmir, the North East, or a town in the Himalayas,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi remarked.
“However, we must always keep in mind that people on a boat it is also necessary to take care of the boat,” he continued.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah presided over the festivities. Police jawans and troops from the Border Security Force, ITBP, CISF, and CRPF thousands of people marched from all around the country in an “Ekta Parade.”
“Sardar Sahab would view India as a living organism,” Modi remarked, referring to Sardar Patel’s motto of a unified India. “That is why his vision of one India included equal chances and the right for each and every individual to dream the same dreams. As a result, we must create a country where women have equal chances, Dalits, disadvantaged people, tribals, and all citizens feel equal. In areas, for instance, energy and water, there should be no prejudice. This is precisely what India is doing at the moment.”
“India is not just a physical entity, as well as a country with a wealth of ideas, culture, and concepts – the home of more than 130 crore people,” he continued.
“Projects to minimize geographical distances are currently undertaken,” the Prime Minister said, referring to the country’s present infrastructural advancements. “How can people grasp the culture of another location if they have to think about it a hundred times before traveling from one corner to the next? As a result, we’re putting together programs to bridge the gap and strengthen our bond.”
“Our co-operative groups, too, strengthen our small farmers,” Modi remarked of farmers. “We’ll be able to gain their trust as we should focus on small farmers and come out to assist them to flourish.”
Modi emphasized the necessity of creating a self-sufficient India, saying that during the epidemic, because everyone contributed to the country’s progress, the country saw remarkable results. “Everything was possible because of the engagement of every citizen of the nation,” he continued. “From 100 million immunizations to the inauguration of new hospitals, everything was possible because of the involvement of every citizen of the country.”
Forging ahead of the Prime Minister’s argument, Amit Shah stated that during the Independence movement, it was Sardar Sahab who reinforced the voice of farmers and established the framework for collaboration in the country.
He also stressed the importance of each citizen’s contribution to the country’s progress.
“This year’s ‘Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav’ is also a vow year for us.” Consider this: if a tiny child pledges not to waste food, it will have a significant impact on the country. The Union Home Minister remarked, “These assurances will be useful in moving the country ahead.”
“This day has significant importance for all of us,” he added, adding that it also reminds us of the liberation fight that took place between 1857 and 1947. “Following Independence, Sardar Sahab was tasked with the monumental job of reuniting the country, which had been separated by the British into India, Pakistan, and 560 other princely kingdoms. And it is on his birthday that we should commit to keeping India together for all time. Kevadia has become a symbol of national togetherness and unity,” he continued. “Sardar Patel’s statue conveys a message to the entire world that India’s future is bright and that no one can shatter the country’s unity.”
Many have attempted to wipe away his accomplishments, according to the Union Home Minister, but the current administration has put an end to such efforts by conferring the Bharat Ratna and erecting a statue in his honor.
“For the last seven years, Prime Minister Modi has committed himself to India’s 60 million underprivileged people. They have never been at the core of progress in the 70 years since independence. However, things have changed since then. They have running water, electricity, toilets, gas cylinders, and health cards,” Shah remarked.
Several Olympians, Commonwealth Games medalists, and Asian Games medalists were among those who attended the festivities. The procession also featured two school bands: St Mary’s School in Naroda, Ahmedabad, and St Xavier’s School in Jamnagar.
A dancing company from Ganjam, Odisha, performed a performance symbolizing the battle for independence.
“Kevadia is not simply the name of a town, it has become a temple — a shrine of national togetherness, of patriotism,” Shah stated as he paid his homage at the ‘Statue of Unity‘ in Kevadia. “This colossal monument of Sardar Patel sends a message to the world that India’s future is bright, and that no one can jeopardize the country’s unity and integrity.” During the ceremony, the home minister also took an oath of national unity.
“Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, a hero who unified the country in the thread of togetherness, will always be remembered for his contribution in freeing India and his resolute leadership,” Defence Minister Rajnath Singh tweeted. “He has also made significant contributions to the development of New India. On the occasion of his birth anniversary, I bow to him.”
Other Union ministers, such as Nitin Gadkari, Hardeep Singh Puri, and Piyush Goyal, paid homage to Sardar Vallabhai Patel as well.
Since 2014, the Modi administration has celebrated Patel’s birth anniversary as ‘Ekta Diwas,’ or National Unity Day. Patel, India’s first Home Minister, was born on October 31, 1875, in Nadiad, Gujarat, and is credited for bringing over 560 states into the Union of India.
Edited by Anupama Roy
