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On Saturday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi took part in the Rashtriya Ekta Diwas festivities at the Parade Ground in Ekta Nagar, located in Gujarat’s Narmada district, commemorating the 151st birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.
The festivities included the Ekta Parade, displaying groups from state police agencies, Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs), and central law enforcement organizations, in addition to cultural acts and showcases by security forces.
The program emphasizes the role of security forces in national security and their involvement in combating armed Left-Wing Extremism.
The parade featured 16 marching groups from nine states and one Union Territory, along with four CAPFs, the National Cadet Corps (NCC), and a musical band.
Highlighted features comprised an NSG ‘Hell March’ unit, thrilling motorcycle stunts by male and female members of the Border Security Force (BSF) and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), along with a showcase that integrated various Indian martial arts performed by the BSF.
A performance by a schoolchildren’s pipe band and a ‘Surya Kiran’ flyover by the Indian Air Force were also included in the planned highlights.
The Prime Minister is set to deliver the National Unity Pledge as a component of the commemoration.
The celebrations this year highlighted the government’s assertion that armed Naxalism had been eradicated in the nation.
The Union Home Ministry stated that the parade would showcase police and CAPF units that had been leading operations against Left-Wing Extremism.
Short films showcasing their efforts and accomplishments are anticipated to be displayed as the groups walked past the Prime Minister.
A theatrical performance titled ‘Naxal Mukt Bharat’, organized by the National School of Drama, featured approximately 2,000 performers from 126 districts affected by armed Naxalism.
The performance aimed to illustrate the challenges encountered by communities in impacted regions and their journey towards peace and development.
Approximately 5,000 individuals from these areas were also asked to participate in the festivities. The cultural event and displays center around the theme ‘Vande Mataram’, celebrating 150 years of the national anthem.
Approximately 5,000 artists from various parts of the country were united for a cultural showcase that represented India’s regional traditions and the essence of ‘Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat’.
The tableaux are also derived from designs contributed by citizens via competitions at both national and Gujarat levels, marking a shift from the traditional method where government departments and state governments were the designers.
Earlier in the day, PM Modi offered floral tributes to Patel at the Statue of Unity, located near the Sardar Sarovar Dam.
He also launched and laid the foundation for 31 tourism and infrastructure projects valued at Rs 426.71 crore in Ekta Nagar, and explored the ‘Rain Forest’ and ‘Vaman Vriksha Vatika’.
Rashtriya Ekta Diwas is celebrated annually on October 31 to honor Patel’s birth anniversary and his role in uniting princely states post-Independence.
The yearly festivities in Ekta Nagar unite police and security personnel, cultural organizations, and individuals from various regions of the country to honor his legacy.
Source: IANS
