PM Modi to lead nation in paying tribute to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on his birth anniversary today

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lead the nation in paying tribute to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on his 145th birth anniversary today from the Statue of Unity at Kevadia in Gujarat. The day is also observed as Rashtriya Ekta Diwas across the country. Mr Modi will also take part in Ekta Diwas Parade and administer a pledge for national unity.

Mr Modi will also address 428 Officer Trainees belonging to various Civil Services currently undergoing the Foundation Course at Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration, Mussoorie through video conference.The Prime Minister will also launch the seaplane service connecting Statue of Unity in Kevadia with Sabarmati Riverfront in Ahmedabad.

President Ram Nath Kovind, Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu, Home Minister Amit Shah and Delhi Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal today paid floral tributes to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel at his statue at Patel Chowk in New Delhi this morning. On the occasion, Home Minister Amit Shah administered Unity Pledge to people.

External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar will deliver this year's Sardar Patel Memorial Lecture at 9.30 PM today.  It will be broadcast on the entire network of All India Radio. Minority Affairs Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi will preside over this year's oration. Minister of State



for External Affairs, V Muraleedharan, will also be present.

As a mark of respect to Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel, who was India's first Information and Broadcasting Minister, All India Radio hosts the annual Sardar Patel Memorial lecture. A galaxy of eminent leaders, scientists and historians have adorned the podium in the past to deliver the lecture. 

The lecture series started in 1955 and the first lecture was delivered by C. Rajagopalachari. Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, Morarji Desai, Dr Zakir Hussain, Dr. Karan Singh, Vasant Sathe, Dr. K. Kasthuri Rangan, Prof. M.G.K. Menon, Dr. M. S. Swaminathan, Justice Leila Seth, J. N. Dixit, Arun Jaitley, Ajit Doval have delivered the lecture in the past.

Paying his tributes to Sardar Patel, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said, today we need to reiterate the resolve that we will always dedicate ourselves to uphold the Unity,  Integrity and Security of the nation.

Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar has greeted people on Rashtriya Ekta Diwas. In a tweet, Mr Javadekar paid tribute to Sardar Patel and said the Iron Man sacrificed everything for the Unity and Integrity of the Nation. He urged people to visit the Statue of Unity this year.