Prime Minister Narendra Modi was accorded a warm welcome in Gujarat on Thursday as he arrived in his home state for a two-day visit to take part in the ‘Rashtriya Ekta Diwas’ (National Unity Day) celebrations, marking the 150th birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel the ‘Iron Man of India’.
Upon his arrival at the Vadodara airport, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was greeted by Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi and other senior dignitaries, including the Commissioner and Collector.
Following the welcome, the Prime Minister proceeded to Ekta Nagar, where he is scheduled to lay the foundation stones for multiple infrastructural and developmental projects. He will also inaugurate several completed initiatives as part of his visit.
As part of the celebrations, PM Modi will unveil a special commemorative coin of Rs 150 denomination and a postal stamp to mark the 150th birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, whose vision and leadership were instrumental in uniting India after independence.
On Friday, the Prime Minister will lead the ‘Rashtriya Ekta Diwas’ events by offering a floral tribute to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel at the Statue of Unity in Ekta Nagar. He will also administer the Ekta Diwas pledge, reaffirming the nation’s commitment to unity and integrity.
This year’s Ekta Diwas holds special significance as it coincides with the 150th birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. The celebrations will feature a grand cultural festival and a Unity Parade, organised at the Statue of Unity complex in Ekta Nagar, where the 182-metre-tall statue stands as a symbol of national pride.
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The National Unity Day parade, modelled on the lines of the Republic Day parade, will see participation from various security and police forces.
The parade will include contingents from the Border Security Force (BSF), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), along with several state police units.
A government statement said, “The parade will include contingents from BSF, CRPF, CISF, ITBP and SSB along with various state police forces. Key attractions this year include a BSF marching contingent comprising exclusively Indian breed dogs such as Rampur Hounds and Mudhol Hounds, Gujarat Police’s Horse Contingent, Assam Police’s Motorcycle Daredevil Show, and BSF’s Camel Contingent and Camel Mounted Band.”
The Ekta Diwas parade will also showcase around ten tableaux representing various states and institutions, including the National Security Guard (NSG), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Gujarat, Jammu and Kashmir, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Manipur, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Uttarakhand and Puducherry.
Each tableau will depict the theme ‘Unity in Diversity’, reflecting the spirit of national harmony and collective strength that Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel envisioned for India.
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