India’s integrity is unbreakable, says Amit Shah

Wednesday 03rd November 2021 06:36 EDT
 
 

The Statue of Unity, which honours Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s contribution in making of modern India, has sent out a message to the world that India has a bright future and no one can dare to fracture the country’s unity and integrity, Union home minister Amit Shah said on Sunday.

In Kevadia to commemorate the 146th birth anniversary of Sardar Patel on National Unity Day, Shah said the Iron Man’s vision will continue to inspire generations to come and help India prosper. Shah also slammed the opposition, saying that efforts were made to obliterate Sardar Patel’s mammoth efforts to unite India from several princely states after Independence.

“It is unfortunate that efforts were made to forget Sardar Saheb. After Independence, his contributions were never given due respect and place. He was not conferred the Bharat Ratna. But it is said, how long can clouds keep the sun hidden,” he said.

Shah said that Kevadia has become “a pilgrimage of India's unity, nationality, and patriotism.” Invoking Chanakya, who consolidated the Maurya empire, the home minister said, “At one time, Acharya Chanakya united India. Centuries later, Sardar Saheb united India. It is the result of this that the country is today proudly strengthening its place in the world. A leader like Sardar Patel is born once in centuries and inspires people for centuries” he said.

Recalling Patel's contribution to unite India by bringing together some of the princely states, Shah said nobody has paid attention to his contribution to make Lakshadweep a part of India. “When India became independent on August 15, Sardar Sahib sent the Indian Naval Ship to Lakshadweep. A few hours after the Indian Navy unfurled the tricolour, Pakistani ships reached there. But, by that time, the tricolour was unfurled. It is because of this that Lakshadweep is a part of India, and a large part of India's coastline is secured from there,” Shah said.

Shah said the government's decision to celebrate October 31 as the 'Rashtriya Ekta Diwas' was taken so that Sardar Patel's struggles for Independence and his perseverance in uniting the country continues to inspire people for centuries.

India capable of dealing with all challenges: Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi asserted that India is capable of dealing with all kinds of challenges, both external and internal inspired by the ideals of India’s first deputy PM and home minister, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. “Sardar Patel always wanted a strong, inclusive, sensitive, alert, humble and developed India. He always put the interest of the country first. Under his inspiration, India is becoming fully capable of dealing with all kinds of challenges, both external and internal. In the last seven years, the country has got rid of the decades-old archaic laws and has given new heights to the ideals that cherish national unity,” Modi said on Sunday in his address through video conferencing on Patel’s 146th birth anniversary.

“The construction of modern infrastructure in the country is removing the geographical and cultural distances in the country. If the people of the country have to think a hundred times before moving from one part to another, then how will it work? When there will be ease of reaching every nook and corner of the country, then the distance of hearts between people will also be bridged and the unity of the country will be strengthened,” the PM said.


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