Dehradun: On Friday, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami paid tribute to the Iron Man of India, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, by offering floral tributes to his statue at the Clock Tower. He also participated in and launched the Unity Walkathon. On this occasion, he administered the pledge to adopt Swadeshi and maintain a drug-free Uttarakhand.
Paying homage to the Iron Man of India, Bharat Ratna Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, the Chief Minister said that India stands today as a powerful and unified nation because of his indomitable courage, foresight, and sense of national dedication.
The Chief Minister said that Sardar Patel’s entire life was dedicated to the unity and integrity of the country. He created a united India by uniting more than 560 princely states. Paying tribute to the contributions of such a great man, Prime Minister Narendra Modi decided to celebrate his birth anniversary as ‘National Unity Day’ from 2014, which is a true tribute to him. He said that walkathon programs are being organized at three locations in each district across the state until November 16th. At each venue, the 8- to 10-kilometer walk is combined with public awareness campaigns such as “Drug-Free India,” “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam,” and “Atmanirbhar Bharat” to convey a positive message to society.
The Chief Minister said that this walkathon is not just a race, but a means to strengthen India’s spirit of unity in diversity. This will strengthen the spirit of nation-building, discipline, and service among the youth. He urged the youth to imbibe Sardar Patel’s ideals and play an active role in realizing the vision of “Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat.”
The Chief Minister said that the state government is continuously working towards the goal of making Uttarakhand the best state in the country. He appealed to all citizens of the state to unite and contribute to realizing this resolve.
Cabinet Minister Satpal Maharaj, Ganesh Joshi, Mrs. Rekha Arya, Rajya Sabha MP Naresh Bansal, MLA Khajan Das, Mrs. Savita Kapoor, other public representatives, Dehradun District Magistrate Savin Bansal and SSP Ajay Singh were present on the occasion.
