Modi flags off Run for Unity

New Delhi:Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday flagged off Run for Unity from Vijay Chowk to mark the the birth anniversary of India's first home minister Sardar Patel. Patel's birth anniversary Oct 31, being observed as 'Rashtriya Ekta Diwas'. Modi walked along the Raj Path to India Gate after flagging of the run in which hundreds of people participated. Earlier, Modi paid floral tributes at the statue of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on his birth anniversary.

 Modi, who was dressed in a white kurta pyjama with a red coloured shawl draped on his left shoulder, was accompanied by Defence and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, Urban Development Minister Venkaiah Naidu, Delhi Lt. Governor Najeeb Jung and others. The leaders offered rose petals in front of a huge portrait of Sardar Patel at Patel Chowk near Parliament House here.

 Modi said Sardar Patel's life was a journey of 'service to the motherland' and he was 'truly the architect of modern India'. 'Sardar Patel's life is a journey of deep-rooted courage, dedication & service to the Motherland. He is truly the architect of Modern India,' Modi tweeted on the occasion of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel's birth anniversary. A 'Run for Unity' will mark India's first home minister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel's birth anniversary Oct 31, being observed as 'Rashtriya Ekta Diwas'.

 He further said that the country 'should not divide history and legacy according to our ideologies'.

 'The country which forgets history can never create history, so for a country filled with aspirations, a country whose youth has dream, we should not forget our personalities of history.... country should not divide history and legacy according to our ideologies,' Modi said as he addressed the gathering on the occasion of Rashtriya Ekta Diwas-- commemorating the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.

 'Today is the inspiring day when we remember Sardar Patel,' he added.

 Modi also remembered late prime minister Indira Gandhi on her death anniversary.'I join my fellow countrymen and women in remembering former PM (Smt) Indira Gandhi on her Punya Tithi (death anniversary),' Modi said in a tweet. Indira Gandhi was assassinated 30 years ago Oct 31 by her own bodyguards.

 Modi further wanted the people should rise over differences of creed, community, language. Our culture and legacy is of unity in diversity. Let us rise over differences of creed, community, language,' Modi said as he addressed the nation on Rashtriya Ekta Diwas. He added: 'Unity in diversity is the uniqueness of our country...so the country should move forward with this feeling of unity.' Mahatma Gandhi seemed incomplete without Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel as he played an integral role in the freedom struggle launched by the father of the nation, Modi said.

 'Sardar Patel joined Mahatma Gandhi in the integration of farmers in the freedom struggle. He (Patel) played an integral role in the Dandi yatra,' Modi said while addressing the nation on the birth anniversary of Sardar Patel being observed as 'Rashtriya Ekta Diwas'. 'Mahatma Gandhi seems incomplete without Sardar Patel. It was a unique partnership that strengthened the struggle for independence,' he added.