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New Delhi, Oct 31 (IANS) On National Unity Day, a multi-faith delegation from the Indian Minorities Federation (IMF) led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered special prayers at religious places of various communities in Srinagar for the peace, prosperity and unity of India.
A first of its kind multi-faith unity march was also organized by the IMF on the banks of Dal Lake in Srinagar as a part of ‘Sardar@150 Unity March’, a nationwide campaign to commemorate the legacy of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on his 150th birth anniversary.
Hindus, Kashmiri Pandits, Shia and Sunni Muslims, Sufis, Sikhs, Christians and Buddhists participated in the multi-faith unity march at Dal Lake Srinagar along with dignitaries including Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha) and IMF convener Satnam Singh Sandhu, IMF co-founder Professor Himani Sood, visiting Shankaracharya Temple in Srinagar, Dastagir Sahib shrine, Gurdwara Chhati Patshahi Guru Hargobind Sahib and St. Luke’s Also participated in multi-faith prayers. Church.
The multi-faith prayers began at the Shankaracharya Temple, the oldest temple dedicated to Lord Shiva in the Kashmir Valley, built by the revered Hindu philosopher Adi Shankaracharya in the 9th century. At the Dastagir Sahib shrine, the revered shrine of Hazrat Dastagir Sahib in Khanyar Srinagar, the IMF coordinator also offered a chadar at the dargah before the prayers.
At Gurdwara Chhatti Patshahi Guru Hargobind Sahib, one of the most important historical Sikh pilgrimage sites in Kashmir, the IMF multi-faith delegation offered Rumala Sahib before Ardaas (prayers) for chardikala (welfare), unity, prosperity and communal harmony in the country.
At St. Luke’s Church, one of the oldest churches in Kashmir, candles were lit in the church to pray to God to guide India towards peace, prosperity and unity.
Following these prayers, a first of its kind multi-faith ‘Ekta March’ was organized by the IMF at Dal Lake, Srinagar to commemorate the 150th birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, the Iron Man of India, and to spread the message of unity and communal harmony.
MP Satnam Singh Sandhu and multi-faith leaders also took the ‘Pledge of Unity’ reaffirming their commitment to maintain the unity, integrity and security of the nation.
On this occasion, members of all communities said that PM Modi’s mantra of ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas and Sabka Prayas’ is ensuring inclusive development of all religions. He said that in the six years since the abrogation of Article 370, there has been rapid development in all sectors even in the Jammu and Kashmir region.
The participants said that PM Modi has paid a true tribute to Sardar Patel by realizing his vision of ‘One Country, One Flag, One Constitution’ for India by abrogating Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir in 2019, re-igniting the spirit of humanity, democracy (Jamhooriyat) and Kashmiriyat in the valleys of Kashmir.
He said that under the leadership of PM Modi, the world’s perception about Kashmir has changed with a huge increase in the number of tourists in the last 6 years.
Residents of Srinagar said that an attempt was made to break the unity of the country through the deadly terrorist attack in Pahalgam by killing tourists on the basis of religion, but under the strong leadership of PM Modi, India created a new history of bravery by breaking the back of the terror masters with Operation Sindoor.
Speaking on the occasion, Rajya Sabha MP and IMF convener Satnam Singh Sandhu said, “Sardar Patel’s tireless efforts united the country, yet he was not given the recognition he deserved. Only in 2014, 67 years after independence, Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid true tribute to his legacy by declaring his birth anniversary as National Unity Day. The real essence of Sardar Patel’s vision of One Nation, One Constitution was felt by every Indian after the abrogation of the Article. 370 under the strong and decisive leadership of PM Modi. So today we all have gathered here to celebrate the legacy of Sardar Patel to give the message of unity and communal harmony to the world.
He said, “The removal of Article 370 has ushered in a new era of peace, progress and prosperity in Kashmir. Through his mantra of Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, PM Modi has ensured inclusive growth and equal empowerment of all communities in the country. In this new India under the leadership of PM Modi, all communities are safe and living harmoniously.”
Kashmir to Kanyakumari, we are one: Actors Mukesh Rishi and Preeti Sapru
Actress Preeti Sapru said, “As the Prime Minister of India says, ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas’, this unity march is sending a message to the whole world that from Kashmir to Kanyakumari, we are all one. Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs and Christians all stand with the Prime Minister today.”
Actor Mukesh Rishi said, “We all will move towards self-reliance with ‘Swadeshi’ in the spirit of ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas aur Sabka Prayas’ (Together, Everyone’s Development, Everyone’s Trust and Everyone’s Effort).”
–IANS
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