PM Modi pays floral tribute to Sardar Patel before flagging off Run for Unity
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has arrived at Patel Chowk in the heart of Delhi, where he paid floral tributes to independent India's first home minister and his hero Sardar Vallabhai Patel on his 139th birth anniversary.
The day is being celebrated as Rashtriya Ekta Diwas or national unity day and the PM will soon flag off a "Run for unity" from Vijay Chowk after addressing participants of the run and administering a unity pledge. Runs are being organised across the country simultaneously.
The PM tweeted early this morning, "I bow to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on his birth anniversary," and "Sardar Patel's life is a journey of deep-rooted courage, dedication & service to the Motherland. He is truly the architect of Modern India."
Minutes later he also tweeted, "I join my fellow countrymen & women in remembering former PM Smt. Indira Gandhi on her Punya Tithi (death anniversary)."
Unlike his predecessor Dr Manmohan Singh of the Congress did every year, PM Modi is not expected to visit Shakti Sthal, the monument that honours Mrs Gandhi, who was assassinated by her bodyguards on this day 30 years ago.
Dr Singh visited Shakti Sthal early this morning as did Congress president Sonia Gandhi and her son and deputy Rahul Gandhi.
The government has announced that it will observe the birth anniversary of Sardar Patel on October 31 every year as National Unity Day as a tribute to his efforts to unite India. Government offices around Parliament were closed by 2 pm on Thursday to allow the Delhi Police to clear and sanitise the area, a security drill seen only the day before the Republic Day parade.
President Pranab Mukherjee will flag off a run at the Rashtrapati Bhawan. In state capitals, chief ministers will attend Run for Unity events.
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh will attend a 'Run For Unity' in Hyderabad and will also attend a passing out parade for officers of the IPS (Indian Police Service) at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy.