Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday paid tribute to India’s first deputy Prime Minister, Bharat Ratna Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on his birth anniversary, which is observed as National Unity Day. The Prime Minister also attended the ‘Rashtriya Ekta Diwas’ parade on this occasion at the Statue of Unity in Kevadia, Gujarat.

Taking to Twitter, PM Modi wrote, “A humble tribute to Iron Man Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, the pioneer of national unity and integrity, on his birth anniversary. Tributes to the great Sardar Patel on his Jayanti.”

राष्ट्रीय एकता और अखंडता के अग्रदूत लौह पुरुष सरदार वल्लभभाई पटेल को उनकी जन्म-जयंती पर विनम्र श्रद्धांजलि।

Tributes to the great Sardar Patel on his Jayanti.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 31, 2020

PM Modi visited Gujarat, the first time since the COVID-19 outbreak and the subsequent lockdown in March, to mark Rashtriya Ekta Diwas, celebrating the birth anniversary of Sardar Patel. The Prime Minister launched the seaplane service connecting the Statue of Unity in Kevadia with Sabarmati Riverfront in Ahmedabad. He also addressed 428 Officer Trainees belonging to various Civil Services currently undergoing the Foundation Course at Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration, Mussoorie through video conference. 

“Today, Kashmir has moved on a new path of development…Whether it is restoration of peace in the Northeast, or the steps being taken for development there, today the country is establishing new dimensions of unity new dimensions of unity,” said PM Modi in during his address in Gujarat. 

India owes an immeasurable debt of gratitude to the vision, diplomacy and pragmatic approach of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, the man who is credited with uniting all 562 princely states to build the Republic of India.