Sardar Patel Week to be observed from October 31

NEW DELHI: Having commissioned a 182-metre tall Statue of Unity in his memory and declared Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s birth anniversary – October 31– as Rashtriya Ekta Divas, the Modi government is set to take its commemoration of the former Congressman to yet another level.

The Centre has decided that one day is not sufficient to honour the first deputy prime minister of independent India. The country will commemorate Sardar Patel for a whole week this year.

The Rashtriya Ekta Suptah will be observed across the country from October 31 to November 6, driving home the message of national unity against a backdrop of escalating tension with neighbouring Pakistan.

A nationwide campaign titled ‘Nation Salutes Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel – the Unifier of India’ will be observed across educational institutes and government departments.

The Rashtriya Ekta Diwas so far has seen the PM paying floral tributes at the Sardar Patel statue on Parliament Street in New Delhi, flagging off Unity Runs and government servants taking the Pledge of Unity.

In a communication issued to institutes, they have been asked to honour the memory of Sardar Patel by conducting programmes and events that reflect his decisive efforts in unifying a diverse country like India.