Rashtriya Ekta Diwas

The government has decided to observe the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on October 31 as “Rashtriya Ekta Diwas’ (National Unity Day) every year. The day will be marked by administration of a pledge to all government employees as well as school and college students, to maintain the unity and integrity of the country.
Sardar Patel, nicknamed the Iron Man of India, was the first home minister of the country and is credited with persuading more than 500 princely states to accede to the Indian union post-Independence.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had earlier as Gujarat CM launched an initiative to install the tallest iron statue of Patel, a Congress leader from Gujarat, in an island in the river Narmada. The Centre’s move to commemorate Patel’s birth anniversary comes days after the Cabinet decided that the government will only organize events to mark Mahatma Gandhi’s birth and death anniversaries, while leaving it to trusts, family members and private committees to organize the birthdeath anniversaries of other national leaders.On Friday, however, the home ministry in a press release announced that the government would observe Patel’s birth anniversary as Rashtirya Ekta Diwas.
“The occasion will provide an opportunity to reaffirm the inherent strength and resilience of our nation to withstand the actual and potential threats to the unity, integrity and security of our country,” it stated.
All ministries and departments of the government of India and all state governments administrators of the union territories have been requested to organize appropriate programmes on the occasion of Rashtriya Ekta Diwas “in a befitting manner”. This may include pledge-taking ceremonies in the states UTs, conducting a ‘Run for Unity’ with people from all sections of society and a march-past in the evening by the police, the central armed police forces and other organizations like the National Cadet Corps (NCC), National Service Scheme (NSS), Scouts and Guides, Home Guards etc.