Ahmedabad/Agartala – 26 Nov (LatestNewsX) – Tripura’s Chief Minister Manik Saha told reporters on Wednesday that Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel devoted his life to safeguarding India’s unity, shaping the nation’s administrative system and strengthening national cohesion.
During the flag‑off ceremony of the Sardar@150 Unity March National Padyatra at Shastra Maidan in Gujarat, Saha echoed this sentiment, noting that Patel was the architect of India’s unity and that his legacy continues to remind the country of the importance of solidarity for protecting sovereignty and integrity.
An aide from the CM’s Office in Agartala explained that Mr Saha, together with Gujarat’s Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, visited the former residence of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and laid a floral tribute on his portrait.
Saha remarked, “Today, we are not just participating in a padyatra, but are paying homage to the noble ideals of unity, courage, and nation‑building.”
Around the country, “Rashtriya Ekta Diwas” is observed on October 31, the birth anniversary of the great architect of India’s unity. This year’s celebrations carry added weight, as they mark the 150th birthday of Sardar Patel.
“The National Padyatra is organised under the My Bharat programme of the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports as part of the Sardar@150 Unity March celebrations that honour the Iron Man of India,” Saha said. He added that the main aim is to remember Patel’s contributions and to instill a spirit of unity, patriotism and responsibility in the nation’s youth.
He noted that the core spirit of the initiative aligns with Ek Bharat, Atmanirbhar Bharat. To honour the 150th birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, the state has planned a range of programmes across various sectors.
Sardar Patel, India’s first deputy prime minister and home minister, was instrumental in bringing nearly 560 princely states into the Indian Union between 1947 and 1949, thereby cementing the country’s unity after independence.
“Sardar Patel dreamed of a united and strong India. He firmly believed that India’s strength lies in its diversity. We all know that during India’s independence, especially between 1947 and 1949, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel integrated approximately 560 princely states into India. Patel is a champion of the unity and integrity of the nation. He dedicated his entire life to safeguarding India’s unity and integrity and played a very important role in building the administrative structure of the country,” he continued.
Saha added that since 2014, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been celebrating “Rashtriya Ekta Diwas” across the nation in honour of Patel.
“In honour of Sardar Patel, the government of India is celebrating the Sardar@150 Unity March this year in Gujarat, intending to make the country stronger, build a prosperous India, and inspire everyone to be patriotic. The Sardar@150 Unity March is being organised in various phases across the country. District‑level padyatras have been organised from October 31 to November 25, and they have been celebrated with great enthusiasm in Tripura as well,” the Tripura CM said.
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