Sonowal Lauds PM Modi for Restoring Honor to 'Iron Man' Sardar Patel
Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal marks National Unity Day by administering the unity pledge and praising PM Modi's initiatives for Sardar Patel.
Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, celebrated National Unity Day with a solemn ceremony at his New Delhi residence on Saturday. The event, held to commemorate the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, saw the Minister administering the National Unity Pledge to a gathering of maritime cadets, employees, and senior officers.
Honoring the Architect of Integrated India
During the event, Minister Sonowal paid floral tributes to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, the first Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister of India. He highlighted Patel's monumental achievement in integrating over 560 princely states into a single Indian Union following Independence, a feat that earned him the title of the 'Iron Man of India'.
Sonowal remarked that for many decades, the man responsible for stitching the nation together did not receive the recognition he deserved. He credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi for changing this narrative and ensuring that Patel's legacy is placed at the heart of Indian nationhood.
Key Initiatives Under PM Modi
The Union Minister pointed to two major initiatives as evidence of the government's commitment to honoring Sardar Patel:
- The Statue of Unity: The construction of the world's tallest statue as a permanent tribute to Patel's vision.
- Rashtriya Ekta Diwas: The official observance of October 31 as National Unity Day since 2014.
Empowering 'Yuva Shakti' for a Developed India
A significant part of the celebration involved interaction with young maritime cadets. Sonowal praised their commitment and enthusiasm, viewing it as a manifestation of 'Yuva Shakti' (Youth Power). He emphasized that these young professionals would be instrumental in steering India toward the goal of becoming a 'Viksit Bharat' (Developed India) by 2047.
The Minister further explained that the vision of 'Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat' has evolved from a mere concept into a national mission. He noted that the country's ports, inland waterways, and shipping lanes now effectively connect the Northeast to the western coast, strengthening national integration.
The National Unity Pledge
The participants, including Secretary of the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Vijay Kumar and other senior officials, took a formal pledge to safeguard the country. The pledge included:
"I will dedicate myself to maintaining the unity, integrity and security of the nation and will also make every possible effort to spread this message among my fellow countrymen. I take this pledge in the spirit of the unity of my country, which became possible through the foresight and actions of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel."
The ceremony concluded with a reaffirmed commitment to uphold the security and internal stability of India, echoing the timeless vision of Sardar Patel.