Rashtriya Ekta Diwas or National Unity Day is observed annually on October 31 to mark the Birth Anniversary of Iron Man of India-Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. The year 2020 marks the 145th Birth Anniversary of Vallabhai Patel.
National Unity Day was introduced by the Government of India in 2014.
Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel:
i.Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel played a crucial role in integration of India from 560 princely states as the First Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister of Independent India.
ii.The day is being observed to acknowledge the efforts of Patel to unite India.
Key Points:
i.Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the Statue of Unity in Gujarat’s Kevadia and paid his respect to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.
ii.He inaugurated India’s First seaplane service, which will offer air connectivity from Sabarmati Riverfront in Ahmedabad to Statue of Unity in Kevadia, Gujarat. It will be operated by Spicejet.
iii.PM Modi virtually addressed 428 trainee officers from various civil services who are undergoing the 95th foundation course at the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration, Mussoorie, Uttarakhand.
iv.National Security Guard Commands, National Disaster Response Force, Gujarat Police Cadre participated in the Rashtriya Ekta Diwas Parade in Kevadia, Gujarat on the National Unity Day.
Events on National Unity Day 2020:
i.The PM administered the Ekta Pledge and witnessed the Ekta Diwas Parade on the occasion of the day.
ii.PM expressed happiness over Valmiki Jayanti coinciding with Ekta Diwas.
iii.On Rashtriya Ekta Diwas, a special program was organized at Sardar Patel Chowk in New Delhi. President Ram Nath Kovind, Vice President Venkaiah Naidu, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Lieutenant Governor of Delhi, Anil Baijal paid floral tributes to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.
Other Inaugurations:
i.On October 30, 2020 PM Modi inaugurated a cruise service near the Statue of Unity. The cruise will cover 6 kilometres in 40 minutes.
ii.He inaugurated Ekta Mall, a Handicraft emporium spread over 35, 000 square feet in Kevadia. Handicrafts from all over the country will be up for sale at the mall.
iii.He also inaugurated a Nutrition Park and a Safari Park on October 30, 2020.
iv.The Safari Park is spread over 375 acres and has 1100 Species of Birds from India and abroad and about 100 animals.
Biographical Documentary:
A Biographical Documentary Iron Man – Sardar Patel was screened by Films Division, Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, Government of India on Films Division website and Youtube channel.
Indira Gandhi’s Death Anniversary:
i.Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tributes to former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on her 36th Death Anniversary.
ii.Indira Gandhi was assassinated by her bodyguards on October 31, 1984.
