Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday paid tributes to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on his 141st birth anniversary and with slogans of ‘Sardar Patel Amar Rahe’, flagged off the ‘Run for Unity’ campaign in New Delhi. The marathon will begin from Vijay Chowk to India Gate. 

The day is being celebrated as ‘Rashtriya Ekta Diwas’ (National Unity Day). Speaking at the event, the PM said India had the ‘Iron Man of India,’ to thank for its unity.

“Today, the country from Kashmir to Kanyakumari is under one flag and the credit for this goes to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel,” the PM said.

Modi also released a commemorative stamp at a programme held at India Gate besides administering Ekta pledge and flagging off the ‘Unity Run’.

Stressing on the need for unity in the nation, Modi said, “Everyone dreams of one strong, self-sufficient, stable, developed India. But the precondition to each of this dream is that India should be united. Unity is the key to achieve all the success. Only unity could fight the poison spread by casteist and communal forces,” Modi added.