PATNA: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday said ‘Bharat Parv 2025’ will be celebrated from November 1-15 to mark Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s 150th birth anniversary.
Addressing a press conference here, he also announced that a grand parade would be held from now every October 31 at Ekta Nagar in Gujarat to mark Sardar Patel’s birth anniversary.
The Union home minister said that on November 15, a grand celebration will be held at the ‘Statue of Unity’ to mark the birth anniversary of tribal icon Birsa Munda.
“The 150th birth anniversary of the ‘Iron Man’ and architect of a united India, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, will be celebrated on October 31 at the ‘Statue of Unity’ in Ekta Nagar, reflecting the spirit of ‘Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat’.
“This year, a grand celebration of ‘National Unity Day’ has been planned, featuring a series of special events. Modelled on the Republic Day parade held every year on January 26 in New Delhi, a grand parade will be organised every year on October 31 at Ekta Nagar,” Shah said.
He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi will take part in the first parade on Friday from 7.55 am.
The Prime Minister will offer floral tributes at the ‘Statue of Unity’, which will be followed by Rashtriya Ekta Diwas celebrations, he added.
The parade will include contingents of personnel of the central paramilitary forces along with various state police forces, Shah said, adding that a cultural programme will showcase India’s richness and diversity of culture.
The Rashtriya Ekta Diwas celebrations this year hold special significance as the nation marks the 150th birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, he added.
Shah further accused Congress of not conferring the Bharat Ratna award on Sardar Patel for 41 years.
“Along with Mahatma Gandhi, Sardar Patel formed the backbone of India’s freedom struggle. His contribution in building the foundation of the nation is immense. Yet, Congress left no stone unturned to try to make the nation forget Sardar Patel and didn’t construct any statue or memorial in his name,” he claimed.
On the other hand, the NDA constructed the ‘Statue of Unity’, which is an engineering marvel, he added. (DEX)
