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This Article is From Oct 31, 2018

Would Need Visa To See Gir Lions If It Weren't For Sardar Patel, Says PM Modi: Highlights

Statue Of Unity Inauguration: Built at a cost of Rs. 2,989 crore, the statue of unity depicts Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel wearing a traditional dhoti and shawl, towering over the Narmada River.

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All India Edited by
Updated : October 31, 2018 5:16 pm IST

Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel's Statue of Unity is built at a cost of Rs. 2,989 crore.

New Delhi/Ahmedabad:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has unveiled the Statue of Unity, built as a tribute to freedom movement icon Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on his 143rd birth anniversary today. Air Force planes showered flowers on the statue in a grand inaugural event on the banks of the Narmada river in Gujarat as PM Modi dedicated it to the nation. Built at a cost of Rs. 2,989 crore, the statue depicts Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, India's first Home Minister, wearing a traditional dhoti and shawl, towering over the Narmada River. Iron was collected from all over the country for the statue of Sardar Patel, also known as the Iron Man of India. At 182-metre, the statue is touted as the world's tallest - it is 177 feet higher than China's Spring Temple Buddha, currently the world's tallest statue.

The statue has been designed by Padma Bhushan-winning sculptor Ram V Sutar and has been built by Larsen and Toubro and the state-run Sardar Sarovar Narmada Nigam Ltd. It took about 250 engineers and 3,400 labourers to construct the statue in 33 months.

The statue will have a viewing gallery at the height of 193 metres from the sea level which can accommodate 200 visitors at a time. This gallery, at 153 metres height, will offer a view of the Sardar Sarovar Dam, its reservoir, and the Satpura and Vindhya mountain ranges

Here are the highlights on the unveiling of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel's Statue of Unity:

Oct 31, 2018 17:16 (IST)
Jharkhand Chief Minister Raghubar Das paid tributes to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on his 143rd birth anniversary and recalled his effort in persuading over 550 princely states to join India.

"Even today Sardar Patel is pertinent, an example of country's unity. Now forces of breaking the nation are more active than earlier----some in the name of caste, some in the name of communalism...There is a necessity to give a fitting reply to such forces," Mr Das said.
Oct 31, 2018 17:14 (IST)
"Statue of Unity is to remind all those who question India's existence and its integrity. This country was, is and will always be eternal," PM Modi said.
Oct 31, 2018 15:01 (IST)
PM Modi hit out at his critics after inaugurating the statue of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. In a veiled attack on Congress chief Rahul Gandhi, PM Modi said had Sardar Patel not worked for unity", "shiv bhakts" wouldn't have been able to pray at the Somnath Temple today.

"Imagine for a moment that if Sardar Patel had not worked towards uniting the nation, Indians would have to get a visa to see the Gir lions and tigers...and shiv bhakts would need a visa to do puja at the Somnath temple...people would also need a visa to see the Charminar in Hyderabad," said the Prime Minister.

This is not the first time that Prime Minister Modi took a jibe at Rahul Gandhi over his visit to the Somnath temple. Last November, after the Congress chief visited the temple before kicking off the campaign in Gujarat, the Prime Minister said Rahul Gandhi's grandfather - Jawaharlal Nehru - didn't even want the temple reconstructed. It was Sardar Patel who took the initiative to reconstruct the temple, which was vandalized and looted by Mahmud of Ghazni in 1026.
Oct 31, 2018 14:50 (IST)

Online booking to visit the Statue of Unity has opened with a Rs. 350 admission fee for the 153-metre-high observation deck that opens to visitors on November 3.
Oct 31, 2018 14:10 (IST)
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Oct 31, 2018 14:08 (IST)

Earlier today, PM Modi, BJP President Amit Shah and Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani visited museum and audio-visual gallery at 'Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat Complex' near Statue of Unity.
Oct 31, 2018 14:05 (IST)
Oct 31, 2018 12:41 (IST)

The Gujarat government said the 185 families moved to make way for the statue had been compensated and given 1,200 acres (475 hectares) of new land.
Oct 31, 2018 12:33 (IST)
Top quotes of PM Modi on Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel
  • Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel  had said infighting was the reason for India's subordination by foreign powers; never again will India make the same mistake and never will India again be enslaved.
  • The Statue of Unity is a reminder to those who question the existence of India; India was eternal, is eternal and will always remain eternal.
  • Kutch to Kohima and Kargil and Kanyakumari, if we can travel freely today, it is because of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.
  • Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel led the path for India, walking on which we are talking with the world on our own terms now.
  • This day is historic. India's Present has recalled golden moment from India's past.
Oct 31, 2018 12:28 (IST)
Oct 31, 2018 12:12 (IST)
Oct 31, 2018 12:07 (IST)

PM Modi performs 'Rashtrarpan Hetu Puja'.
Oct 31, 2018 11:31 (IST)
PM Modi said that the Pradhan Mantri Jan Aarogya Yojana and Ayushman Bharat are among the biggest schemes in the world. "The number of beneficiaries of these schemes far exceed the populations of many countries in Europe and North America. It also exceeds the total populations of many European countries combined. It shows how every Indian is taken forward in the journey of a New India," he said.
Oct 31, 2018 11:23 (IST)
"Statue of Unity is also going to bring prosperity to the tribals, farmers and villagers"


  • The contribution of the tribals, farmers and villagers, who helped make this possible cannot be ignored, I thank them from the bottom of my heart. Without your help and contribution, this would not be possible today. With the Statue of Unity, you (tribals and farmers) have enshrined your names in history too.
  • The Statue of Unity is also going to bring prosperity to the tribals, farmers and villagers in this region. The Statue of Unity will help better the livelihoods of locals and tribals in the area. It will bring with itself, immense opportunities for business. Because of tourism, when the world descends here, this region will prosper.
Oct 31, 2018 11:11 (IST)
"Statue of Unity is a symbol of India's integrity, India's resolve"
  • Sardar Patel was made the Home Minister of India at the country's most difficult period. No one can imagine how he managed to keep India from disintegrating after partition. The greatness of his deeds cannot be put in words. Each and every one of us owe it to this man for what he has done for the country.
  • Statue of Unity is a symbol of India's integrity, India's resolve, India's determination and India's unity.... It shows that India was, is and always will be eternal.
  • It is a symbol that 'Ek Bharat is Shreshth Bharat'.
Oct 31, 2018 11:05 (IST)
Oct 31, 2018 11:01 (IST)
Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel unified the country, stopped it from disintegration: PM Modi
  • This is the tallest statue in the world. People the world over will not only visit this site, but also remember this. They will not only remember this marvel, but remember the great people of India.
  • There were many pessimists who used to always think that a diverse country like India can never remain United. It will fall apart. But, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel showed how it is done. We should learn how to grow from strength to strength, how to always stay united.
  • Sardar Patel used Kautilya's wisdom and Shivaji Maharaj's bravery to achieve the great feat of uniting India after partition. He did something that was unparalleled.
  • From Kutch to Kohima, from Kashmir to Kanyakumari, Sardar Patel united the country. This shows what a great resolve he had.
  • It is because of him that we can travel to all the great sites and meet the great people of all the states without a visa. 
  • If it wasn't for Sardar Patel, there would be no rail line from Kashmir to Kanyakumari.
Oct 31, 2018 10:54 (IST)

In order to build the Statue of Unity, lakhs of farmers from all over India came together, gave their tools, portions of the soil and thus, a mass movement developed: PM
Oct 31, 2018 10:44 (IST)
PM Modi's address on unveiling of Statue of Unity

  • Today is a historic day for India... I want to start by congratulating all Indians including those settled abroad.
  • It is this feeling of being united, of togetherness, that has kept India going for thousands of years.
  • I thank all those who came forward and took part in the 'Run for Unity' today.=
  • Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel was responsible for us living in a United India today. It was his efforts after Independence that led to India being what it is today.
  • Because of your blessings, I have been given the honour to be the one who dedicates this amazing statue to the nation. I am truly humbled and feel truly blessed. I thank you all for giving me this opportunity.
  • I was given the first piece of iron that was contributed for this marvel. I am giving it for you all to see at the museum here at the Statue of Unity.
  • This is a project that we had thought about during the time I was the Chief Minister of Gujarat 

Oct 31, 2018 10:40 (IST)



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