Sardar Patel was known for leading India’s freedom struggle from the front and was instrumental in unifying the country after partition for which he was referred to as the “Ironman of India”.
NEW DELHI: Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated the ‘Run for Unity’ marathon from Major Dhyanchand Stadium in New Delhi today. Renowned sportsperson and personalities from all walks of life also took part in this event.
World boxing champion Mary Kom and gymnast Dipa Karmakar, the first Indian female gymnast in the history of the Commonwealth Games to win a bronze medal, also joined the marathon.
Thousands of people in the age group between seven and 70 years participated in the over one km run that would culminate at the India Gate’s Amar Jawan Jyoti.
Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s Statue of Unity, the tallest statue in the world, will be inaugurated today by PM Narendra Modi in Gujarat’s Sadhu Bet on his 143rd birth anniversary.
October 31 is observed as National Unity Day or Rashtriya Ekta Diwas every year to coincide with the birth anniversary of Sardar Patel.
According to reports, several celebrities, sports stars, and even techies have been roped in to make the marathons a success.
In Odisha, Union Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan was seen participating in the marathon in Bhubaneswar, while Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman flagged off and participated in the ‘Run For Unity’ in Chennai.
Meanwhile, Union Health Minister JP Nadda and Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal flagged off the marathon in Guwahati.
The day’s dedication was expected to reinforce unity, integrity and security of the nation. Union Ministers Prakash Javadekar, Harsh Vardhan, Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, Hardeep Singh Puri and R.K. Singh were present on the occasion.
