Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Birth Anniversary/ Janma Jayanti is Declared as RASHTRIYA EKTA DIVAS

The Modi government declared 31st October as ‘Rashtriya Ekta Divas’ (National Unity Day) to mark the birth anniversary of India’s first Home Minister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. The Central government had on October 24 declared that the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel would be celebrated as Rashtriya Ekta Divas.

PM Modi also flagged off ‘run for unity’ on the occasion of 139th birth anniversary of the ‘Iron Man of India’.Celebrating the ‘Rashtriya Ekta Divas’. The PM paid floral tributes at the Sardar’s statue at Patel Chowk at 7.30am and then addressed the participants of the 'Run for Unity' at Vijay Chowk at 7.40am.

The Home Minister had also asked all Chief Ministers to observe this day and hold functions at all state and district levels. All Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) schools were also asked to celebrate the day.  Got up as an event to accord Sardar Patel, his place in history, the Government said it was not an attempt to disparage the contribution of any other leader.

In an official statement, the Home Ministry said the occasion will provide an opportunity to repeat the inherent strength and spirit of "our nation to withstand the actual and potential threats to the unity, integrity and security of our country".  This day is also the death anniversary of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi who was shot dead by her bodyguards in 1984. However, there is no mention about Gandhi in the release.

The government had also allocated Rs. 200 crore in the budget for the construction of a statue of Sardar Patel in Gujarat. The move had come under severe criticism from many quarters for spending so much on a statue.