Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, while flagging off “Run for Unity”, a grand run, that spreads Sardar Patel’s message of unity and integrity, from Vadodara on the pleasant morning of Sunday, has said that on the strong pillars of unity, good governance and people’s participation India would emerge as a super power in the world. This is not a mere run but it is a public movement that certainly would lead India reaching the destination of super power.
He said, India’s diversity is not her weakness but it is her strong peculiarity. Our diversity is not a bouquet of paper but it is our unique identity and a source of our tremendous strength. It is the responsibility of our present and future generations strengthening India’s unity in her diversity. Run for Unity is a drive towards patriotism and that it should not be seen as a part of politics, he underlined.
Following the path of Sardar Patel’s message of unity, Gujarat has emerged as a model of development for the last decade in the world and alike Gujarat, India could also be a super power by joining people with the strength of unity, the Chief Minister ascertained.
Gujarat Government, he said, with a view to spreading the message of unity would conduct an essay competition in the schools across the country and various awards worth Rs. 2.5 crore would be given away to the winners of at least 5500 schools. We have contacted around 2 lakh schools in this regard. Gujarat has decided to construct world’s tallest Statue of Unity and with the strength of our unity, India would emerge as giant as this statue on the global horizon, he said.
Significantly, as soon as he flagged off Run for Unity at sharp 8 am from Vadodara, more than 40 lakh people from 1100 different places across India took a start simultaneously. In Vadodara, from where he kicked-off the run, around three lakh citizens participated and set a new record of its kind.
Energy Minister Saurabhbhai Patel, Chief Secretary Varesh Sinha, MP Balkrishna Sukla, MLAs, Mayor of Vadodara, Collector Vinod Rao, Municipal Commissioner Manish Bhardwaj and other dignitaries were present.