Led by President Draupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the nation paid rich tributes to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on his birth anniversary. Vice President Jagdeep Dhankar, Home Minister Amit Shah and Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge too paid tributes to the Iron Man and several functions were held across the country with Union Ministers participating across in the National Unity day.
Modi also remembered former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on her 39th death anniversary and posted on social media post X:"Remembering former PM Indira Gandhi Ji on her death anniversary." Indira Gandhi, India's first and only woman prime minister, was assassinated by her bodyguards on this day in 1984.
"On the Jayanti of Sardar Patel, we remember his indomitable spirit, visionary statesmanship and the extraordinary dedication with which he shaped the destiny of our nation," the Prime Minister said. "His commitment to national integration continues to guide us. We are forever indebted to his service," he added.
Dhankhar lauded contributions of the Iron Man of India and said successful integrations of all states was a great feat achieved by Sardar Patel.
In Kevadia (Gujarat), Modi paid floral tribute to Patel at the Statue of Unity in Gujarat on the birth anniversary of India's first home minister, which is celebrated as National Unity Day.
The Prime Minister administered the oath of unity to the gathering at a function held at Kevadia. Born in Gujarat in 1875, Sardar Patel was a lawyer and emerged as a leading Congress leader and associate of Mahatma Gandhi during the independence struggle. As the first home minister of the independent India, he is credited with uniting hundreds of princely states into the Union with his mix of persuasion and firmness.
In his tributes, Home Minister Amit Shah said the country -- from Kashmir to Kanyakumari -- has been united due to the unforgettable contribution of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. Addressing an event Shah asked all citizens to take a pledge to put the nation in the top position in the world in all sectors by 2047 when it will celebrate the centenary of its Independence.
On the occasion, Shah flagged off a 'Run for Unity' which began from the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium in the national capital.
The flagging-off ceremony also saw the presence of Union ministers Anurag Thakur, Meenakashi Lekhi, Nityanand Rai, Ajay Kumar Mishra, Nisith Pramanik, besides Delhi Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena and others.
The central government has been observing October 31 as 'Rashtriya Ekta Diwas' or National Unity Day since 2014 to foster and reinforce its dedication to preserving and strengthening the unity, integrity and security of the nation.
Congress paid rich tributes with party chief Mallikarjun Kharge hailing his contribution in uniting the country. In a post on X, Kharge said, "Tributes to the man who united the entire country, the iron man of India, the country's first deputy prime minister, former Congress president and our source of inspiration, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel ji, on his birth anniversary."
The grand old party also paid rich tributes to former prime minister Indira Gandhi with Kharge hailing her for playing an important role in building a strong and progressive India.
Kharge and former party chiefs Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi paid floral tributes to the ex-prime minister at her memorial 'Shakti Sthal' here. Rahul said his grandmother Indira Gandhi was a source of strength for him and asserted that he will always protect the India for which she "sacrificed everything".
BJP MP Varun Gandhi also paid tributes to Indira Gandhi saying, "Hundreds of salutations to my grandmother, late Indira Gandhi ji, who was a symbol of unmatched courage and struggle and the pioneer of democratic socialism, on her martyrdom day." While Rahul is the son of Indira Gandhi's elder son Rajiv, Varun Gandhi is the son of her younger son Sanjay.