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Gandhinagar, Oct 30 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi was given a warm welcome in Gujarat on Thursday as he arrived in his home state for a two-day visit and is set to participate in the ‘Rashtriya Ekta Diwas’ (National Unity Day) celebrations to commemorate the 150th birth anniversary of ‘Iron Man of India’ Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel this year.
Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Shanghvi and other senior dignitaries including Commissioners and Collectors warmly welcomed Prime Minister Narendra Modi upon his arrival at Vadodara Airport.
After this, PM Modi left for Ekta Nagar, where he would lay the foundation stone of various infrastructure and developmental projects and also inaugurate many projects.
He will also release a special commemorative coin and postage stamp worth Rs 150 on the occasion of the 150th birth anniversary of Sardar Patel.
On Friday, PM Modi will lead the ‘National Unity Day’ celebrations by paying floral tributes to the ‘Iron Man of India’ and will also administer the Unity Day pledge.
This year’s Unity Day celebrations are special as it includes a cultural festival and Unity Parade, marking the 150th birth anniversary celebrations of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel at Ekta Nagar, where the 182 meter tall Statue of Unity stands.
Security forces will be seen parading with decorative tableaux in the National Unity Day Parade organized on the lines of the Republic Day Parade.
“The parade will include contingents of BSF, CRPF, CISF, ITBP and SSB along with various state police forces.
This year’s highlights include BSF’s Marching Contingent featuring exclusively Indian breed of dogs like Rampur Hounds and Mudhol Hounds, Gujarat Police’s Horse Contingent, Assam Police’s Motorcycle Daredevil Show and BSF’s Camel Contingent and Camel Mounted Band,” a government statement said.
The Unity Day Parade will include around 10 tableaux from NSG, NDRF, Gujarat, Jammu & Kashmir, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Manipur, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Uttarakhand and Puducherry, reflecting the theme ‘Unity in Diversity’.
–IANS
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