New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s two-day visit to Gujarat begins today, Friday. He will participate in the National Unity Day celebrations, marking the 150th birth anniversary of India’s “Iron Man,” Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.
This visit will be a blend of tribute, development, and national pride, as the Prime Minister will inaugurate several projects and lead the unity celebrations at the Statue of Unity in Ekta Nagar, Kevadia. According to the Prime Minister’s Office, Prime Minister Modi will arrive in Ekta Nagar on Thursday, the first leg of his visit. Upon arrival, the Prime Minister will flag off electric buses and inaugurate and lay the foundation stone for various development and infrastructure projects worth approximately ₹1,140 crore.
Prime Minister Modi will also lay the foundation stone for several projects. These include the Museum of the Princely States of India, Veer Balak Udyan, a sports complex, a rainforest project, jetty development near Shoolpaneshwar Ghat, and travelators at the Statue of Unity complex. All of these are aimed at enriching the visitor experience and promoting holistic development in the area. During this event, Prime Minister Modi will release a special commemorative coin of ₹150 and a postage stamp to commemorate the 150th birth anniversary of Sardar Patel. This will be a symbolic tribute to Patel’s unparalleled contribution in unifying over 560 princely states and laying the foundation of modern India.
PM Modi will begin his day by paying floral tribute to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel at the Statue of Unity and administering the Unity Day pledge, which reaffirms India’s collective commitment to national unity, integrity, and internal security. The highlight of the day will be the Unity Day parade, which will include contingents from various state police forces, as well as the BSF, CRPF, CISF, ITBP, and SSB.
This year’s parade will feature several unique elements, including a BSF contingent of indigenous Indian dog breeds such as the Rampur Hounds and Mudhol Hounds, a Gujarat Police cavalry contingent, the Assam Police Motorcycle Daredevil Show, and the BSF Camel Contingent with its renowned Camel Mounted Band. In recognition of bravery and sacrifice, the event will honour five Shaurya Chakra awardees from the CRPF and 16 gallantry medal recipients from the BSF for their courageous actions during anti-Naxal operations in Jharkhand and counter-terrorism operations in Jammu and Kashmir. BSF personnel who displayed exemplary gallantry during Operation Sindoor will also be honoured.
