Ekta Nagar, Gujarat (October 31, 2025):
Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on his 150th birth anniversary at the Statue of Unity, reaffirming Patel’s vision of a united India. Speaking at the Rashtriya Ekta Diwas (National Unity Day) parade in Ekta Nagar, the Prime Minister said that Sardar Patel had wanted to integrate the entire region of Kashmir into India, but his efforts were halted by then-Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru.
“Just as Sardar Patel united more than 550 princely states after Independence, he also wanted Kashmir to be completely integrated into the Union of India,” Mr. Modi said. “However, Nehru ji stopped him, and that decision led to decades of suffering for the nation,” he added.
Mr. Modi reached the 182-metre-tall Statue of Unity in Narmada district early in the morning and offered floral tributes to the Iron Man of India. He praised Patel’s decisive leadership, saying his policies and actions shaped modern India and laid the foundation for “One India, Excellent India.”
“Sardar Patel believed that we should not just write history, but create it through our actions,” the Prime Minister said. “His strength lay in his ability to bring people together — he turned the impossible task of uniting princely states into a reality.”
The event featured a grand National Unity Day parade, reviewed by the Prime Minister. This year’s parade was notable for being led entirely by women officers from various police and paramilitary forces, including the BSF, CRPF, CISF, ITBP, and SSB. Contingents from Jammu & Kashmir, Assam, Tripura, Odisha, Maharashtra, and other states also participated.
A major highlight of the celebration was a “Republic Day-style” parade showcasing 10 decorative floats from different regions and organizations such as the NSG, NDRF, and states including Gujarat, Jammu & Kashmir, Chhattisgarh, and Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Each tableau depicted India’s theme of “Unity in Diversity.”
The event also featured cultural performances by nearly 900 artists presenting classical dances that reflected the country’s rich heritage. In a striking display of women’s empowerment, all contingents saluting the Prime Minister were commanded by women officers.
Other attractions included a BSF marching unit featuring Indian dog breeds like Rampur Hounds, the Gujarat Police horse contingent, the Assam Police motorcycle stunt team, and the BSF’s iconic camel contingent with a camel-mounted band. The parade also paid tribute to CRPF and BSF personnel who were awarded the Shaurya Chakra and other gallantry medals for their bravery in counter-terrorism and anti-Naxal operations.
The Indian Air Force marked the occasion with a spectacular fly-past under Operation Surya Kiran, symbolizing strength, unity, and national pride.
Since 2014, October 31 has been observed as Rashtriya Ekta Diwas to honor Sardar Patel’s birth anniversary and his unmatched role in unifying the nation.
