After flagging off the ‘Run for Unity’ from Rajpath on Friday morning marking the 139 birth anniversary of Sardar Patel, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, “Mahatma Gandhi was incomplete without Sardar Patel,” referring to the pivotal place that Sardar Patel had in Indian history.
Remembering the contribution of Patel in the Independence movement, Mr. Modi said Mahatma Gandhi had entrusted him with planning of historical Dandi March which he successfully did. “When we see Ramakrishna Paramhans he appears to be incomplete without Swami Vivekananda. Similarly when we see Mahatma Gandhi, he also appears incomplete without Sardar Patel,’’ noted Mr Modi amid thunderous applause.
Referring to former Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, who was assassinated this day in 1984, Mr Modi said, “I join my fellow countrymen and women in remembering Indira Gandhi on her p unya tithi .”
He then went on to make a veiled reference to anti-Sikh riots that followed then Indira Gandhi’s assassination.
“Patel never deviated from his vision of national unity despite facing obstacles in his political life. It is the misfortune of this country that 30 years ago on the birth anniversary of such a leader an incident which shook the unity of the nation took place,” Mr Modi.
“ Hamare apne logon ko maut ke ghaat utar diya gaya (Our own people were killed on that day). That incident was not a wound on the hearts of people of a particular religion , it was a dagger into the heart of thousands of years of country’s heritage and culture,” he added.
The Run for Unity was flagged off after the PM addressed the participants and administered the unity pledge. Mr. Modi walked along the Rajpath to India Gate with the participants after flagging off the run . He also paid floral tributes at the statue of Sardar Patel at Patel Chowk, Parliament Street this morning. The government has meanwhile 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.
