Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami Launches ‘Unity March Walkathon’, Pays Tribute to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel
Dehradun, October 31:
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami paid rich tributes to the Iron Man of India, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, on his birth anniversary at Ghantaghar, Dehradun, on Friday. On the occasion, the Chief Minister offered floral tributes at Patel’s statue and inaugurated the ‘Unity March Walkathon’ as part of the National Unity Day (Rashtriya Ekta Diwas) celebrations.
Addressing the gathering, the Chief Minister said that India stands today as a strong and united nation due to Sardar Patel’s indomitable courage, foresight, and firm commitment to national integration. He said that Sardar Patel devoted his entire life to the unity and integrity of the country and successfully integrated more than 560 princely states into the Indian Union.
“The country will always remain indebted to Sardar Patel’s unparalleled contribution to nation-building. As a true homage to him, Prime Minister Narendra Modi decided in 2014 to commemorate his birth anniversary as Rashtriya Ekta Diwas (National Unity Day),” said the Chief Minister.
He further announced that walkathon programs are being organized at three venues in each district across Uttarakhand till November 16. Each 8–10 km walk will also carry messages promoting social awareness campaigns such as ‘Drug-Free India’, ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’, and ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ to spread constructive values in society.
The Chief Minister emphasized that the Unity Walkathon is not merely a physical event but a movement to strengthen the spirit of ‘Unity in Diversity’. He added that such initiatives will nurture discipline, dedication, and the spirit of nation-building among the youth.
Calling upon the youth to imbibe the ideals of Sardar Patel, Dhami urged them to play an active role in realizing the vision of ‘Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat’.
Reaffirming his government’s commitment, the Chief Minister said, “The state government is making continuous efforts to make Uttarakhand the best state in the country. I appeal to every citizen to contribute unitedly towards fulfilling this shared vision.”
Prominent dignitaries including Cabinet Ministers Satpal Maharaj, Ganesh Joshi, Rekha Arya, Rajya Sabha MP Naresh Bansal, MLAs Khajan Das and Savita Kapoor, District Magistrate Savin Bansal, SSP Ajai Singh, and several other public representatives and citizens participated in the event.
