Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Shri Amit Shah today flagged off the 'Run for Unity' organized in New Delhi. The ‘Run for Unity’ was organized as part of the National Unity Day, to be celebrated on the occasion of the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, i.e, 31^st October. Several dignitaries including Union Cabinet Ministers Shri Manohar Lal Khattar, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Shri Nityanand Rai and Lieutenant Governor of Delhi Shri Vinay Kumar Saxena were present on the occasion.

In his address, Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah said that Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi had decided to organize the 'Run for Unity' in 2015 in the memory of the great leader Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel to make the country pledge for the unity and integrity of the country. He said that since then, the entire country not only takes a pledge for the unity and integrity of the whole country through the ‘Run for Unity’ but also rededicates itself to the service of the Mother India. Shri Shah added that the ‘Run for Unity’ has become a pledge of unity of the country as well as a pledge of a developed India. He said that Prime Minister Modi has put forth before all countrymen the pledge to build a fully developed India by 2047, which would be at the top of the ladder in every field in the World.

Shri Amit Shah said that today India stands before the world as a flourishing, developing and a strong nation. He said that if we look back at history, after independence, the creation of present-day India by uniting more than 550 princely states was possible only because of the strong will and quick decision making of Sardar Saheb. He said that it was Sardar Patel due to whose strong will today India stands united and strong before the World. He added that today India stands strong before the World on the path of becoming the leader in every field, and its foundation was laid by Sardar Patel.

Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation said that it is unfortunate that Sardar Patel was forgotten for years and he was also denied the due honour of Bharat Ratna. He said that Prime Minister Modi has kept the memory of Sardar Patel alive by building the World's tallest statue in Kevadia, Gujarat. Shri Shah said that Sardar Patel's vision, ideas and message in every field have been given a concrete shape by Prime Minister Modi.

Shri Amit Shah said that the great ideas of Sardar Patel will definitely become a guiding light for the young generation of the country. Union Home Minister called upon the countrymen to take a pledge to strengthen the unity of India through the ‘Run for Unity’ and to realize the dream of a fully developed India by 2047.

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RK/VV/PR/PS