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Spring: In a heartfelt display of humility and national pride, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday personally walked onto the Unity Parade grounds of the Statue of Unity in Gujarat’s Kevadiya, shaking hands and warmly greeting thousands of gathered citizens, security personnel and participants.
The spontaneous gesture came soon after the conclusion of the grand Rashtriya Ekta Diwas (National Unity Day) parade, underscoring PM Modi’s deep reverence for Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on the 150th birth anniversary of the Iron Man.
As the final notes of the parade faded, PM Modi immediately abandoned the exit protocol, instead walking next to the massive venue – the 182-metre-high ‘Statue of Unity’ – to directly connect with the attendees.
Wearing his signature kurta, he stopped for selfies, high-fives and chats, to cheers and chants of “Modi! Modi!” and “Bharat Mata Ki Jai!” From a diverse audience, including families, school children and tourists who had registered online for the event.
According to eyewitnesses, PM Modi addressed a group of young participants and said, “This is not just a parade; it is a living tribute to Sardar Patel’s dream of Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat.”
The moment, captured in a viral video shared on social media, symbolizes PM Modi’s personal touch towards the common people.
Earlier, he laid floral tributes at the base of the statue and unveiled commemorative coins and stamps in honor of ‘Iron Man’ Sardar Patel.
In a post on Twitter, PM Modi said, “National Unity Day reminds us of Sardar Patel’s unmatched dedication to national unity and integrity. The spirit of unity will continue to guide our country.”
The Unity Parade, a spectacular Republic Day-style spectacle themed ‘Unity in Diversity’, included marching contingents from elite forces such as the National Security Guard (NSG), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Border Security Force (BSF) Camel Band, and state police units of Gujarat, Jammu and Kashmir, Manipur, Maharashtra and other states.
Tableaux from various states and union territories highlighted the cultural mosaic of India, while highlights included the BSF dog squad performing counter-terrorism operations, daring motorcycle stunts by Assam Police and an air show by the Surya Kiran aerobatic team.
PM Modi, who inaugurated and reviewed the parade, administered the ‘Pledge of Unity’ to the huge crowd, reaffirming Patel’s vision of a united India made up of over 560 princely states after independence. Chief Ministers of several states attended the event and an estimated 50,000 people attended.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah described the annual parade as a “permanent event” to immortalize Patel’s legacy and announced a 15-day ‘Bharat Parv’ cultural festival starting from November 1.
–IANS