Manipur observed National Unity Day 2020 (Rashtriya Ekta Diwas) on Saturday, commemorating the 145th Birth Anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, the Iron Man of India, at 1st Bn. Manipur Rifles Parade Ground in Imphal.
Delivering his speech, Chief Minister N. Biren Singh said that National Unity Day is being observed on October 31 every year to honour the contribution made by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel in Nation building. “Under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, the Central Government has been observing the National Unity Day throughout the country since 2014,” he added.
N. Biren Singh then recalled that Sadar Patel was one of the greatest freedom fighters who had participated in various freedom struggles against the oppressive rule of the British. “As a national leader, he took part in many freedom struggle movement like Peasant Movement, Civil Disobedience Movement, and Quit India Movement among others under the Gandhian principle,” Biren Singh added.
Biren further stated that Sardar Patel served as the Deputy Prime Minister after Indian Independence and took a great role in providing relief and rehabilitation to refugees. “He is still known as Patron Saint of India’s Civil Servant for introducing Modern All India Services System. Apart from this, the leader played a major role in unifying the then British Provinces and more than 500 Independent Princely States, under the Indian Independence Act, 1947, making the country a strong Nation and a United India,” he added.
The Chief Minister then maintained that the observance of National Unity Day gave a message to everyone that despite differences in cultures and traditions amongst various inhabitants of the country, “we can build a strong nation defending our unity, integrity and security by following the path of our great leaders”. He added that the State Government had been taking up certain steps to bridge the gap between hill and valley regions and had moved forward to bringing inclusive development in the State.
NNN