ITANAGAR, Oct 30: Governor BD Mishra and Chief Minister Pema Khandu greeted the people of the state on the occasion of Rashtriya Ekta Diwas.
The birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel is celebrated as Rashtriya Ekta Diwas on 31 October every year since 2014.
Mishra expressed hope that the occasion will further strengthen the spirit of unity and integrity amongst the people of the state and the country.
“Sardar Patel played a leading role in the Indian freedom struggle and became the first deputy prime minister and home minister of India. He was popularly known as Iron Man of India and is credited with achieving political integration of India immediately after independence,” the governor said.
“Let us ensure that the effort of Sardar Patel for the unification of India progresses further and we as a nation become stronger and fully developed,” Mishra appealed.
Paying rich tributes to Sardar Patel, Khandu said due to the efforts of the Iron Man of India the country was integrated as one entity in the years following India’s independence.
“Being the first Home Minister and Deputy Prime Minister, he played an important role in the integration of many Indian princely states to make an Indian federation. India as a nation owes Sardar Patel its federal structure,” Khandu observed.
The chief minister said that this year, the National Unity Day has a special significance, as it marks the completion of the task of making Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh an integral part of India by abrogating Article 370.
“This truly represents the dream of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel of an integrated India,” he added. (Raj Bhavan, CMO)
