HM Shah Flags Off Run for Unity 2026 on Sardar Patel’s 151st Birth Anniversary
At the Rashtriya Ekta Diwas event in New Delhi, the Home Minister highlights Patel’s role in national integration and sets December 31, 2029, as the target for a drug-free India.
- Amit Shah flags off Run for Unity 2026 in New Delhi on Patel’s 151st birth anniversary.
- Unity Pledge administered to citizens on Rashtriya Ekta Diwas.
- Government sets December 31, 2029, as the target for a drug-free India.
- Shah recalls Patel’s role in integrating princely states and establishing a united India.
GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 31st Oct: Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah on Saturday flagged off the Run for Unity 2026 in New Delhi to mark the 151st birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, observed as Rashtriya Ekta Diwas.
On the occasion, Shah also administered the Unity Pledge to citizens, calling for national unity and reaffirming the importance of preserving India’s cultural, linguistic and traditional diversity.
The event was attended by Delhi Lieutenant Governor Taranjit Singh Sandhu, Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, Union Ministers of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai and Bandi Sanjay Kumar, among other dignitaries.
Addressing the gathering, Shah said that since Narendra Modi became Prime Minister, Patel’s birth anniversary has been observed as Rashtriya Ekta Diwas.
Recalling Patel’s contribution to national integration, Shah said the country’s first Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister transformed India’s history and geography by uniting numerous princely states after independence.
He said that within 1,218 days of independence, Patel accomplished the task of creating a united India, despite predictions by several countries that the newly independent nation would eventually disintegrate.
Shah also highlighted the importance of national unity, saying India’s linguistic, cultural and religious diversity is its strength rather than a weakness. He added that dialogue, trust and an inclusive approach had helped build a shared national identity over the past eight decades.
Shah Sets 2029 Target for Drug-Free India
During his address, Shah said India had moved beyond Naxalism on March 31 this year and was now progressing towards becoming a drug-free nation.
He described a drug-free India as a foundational requirement for achieving Prime Minister Modi’s vision of Viksit Bharat. Shah announced that the government had set December 31, 2029, as the target to make the country completely free from drugs.
He said achieving this goal would be among the most significant contributions to India’s youth and their future.
The Home Minister also referred to the abrogation of Article 370, the government’s efforts against Naxalism and the implementation of a unified tax system as significant milestones during the Modi government’s tenure.
Somnath Reconstruction and Statue of Unity
Shah said the reconstruction of the Somnath Temple represented a civilizational and national renaissance, adding that the vision for rebuilding the temple had also been conceived by Sardar Patel.
He further said that initiatives such as Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat were guiding the country towards a stronger position among the world’s economies.
Referring to Patel’s legacy, Shah said the former Home Minister had not received the recognition he deserved for many years. He alleged that attempts had been made to sideline his contributions, but his legacy could not be erased.
Shah highlighted the Statue of Unity in Gujarat, saying Prime Minister Narendra Modi had conceptualised the monument and laid its foundation stone while serving as the state’s Chief Minister. The monument, he said, has brought Patel’s towering personality before the entire country.
Shah also noted that Prime Minister Modi would take the salute at a parade featuring police forces from across the country at the same location, conveying a message of national unity.
