Tripura, 25 Mov 2025: After India’s independence, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel emerged as one of the key architects of national integration. To honour his patriotism, commitment to sovereignty, and vision of unity, National Unity Day is observed across the country. Speaking at the commencement of the Unity March held to mark the 150th birth anniversary of the Iron Man of India, Chief Minister Prof. (Dr.) Manik Saha highlighted Patel’s unmatched contribution to nation-building.
The second phase of the West Tripura district–level Unity March began this morning from the Gandhi statue near Circuit House and concluded at Sukhamoy School in Ushabazar.
Addressing the gathering, Chief Minister Prof. (Dr.) Manik Saha said that the birth anniversary of India’s first Deputy Prime Minister, Bharat Ratna Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, is observed every year on 31 October as National Unity Day. He emphasized that the day is celebrated to ensure that the nation never forgets the historic role Patel played in safeguarding India’s unity and integrity. Sardar Patel integrated nearly 562 princely states into the Indian Union, laying the foundation of a strong, unified nation.
The Chief Minister recalled that Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the “Run for Unity” in 2014 as a tribute to Patel, and later in 2018 inaugurated the world’s tallest statue the Statue of Unity on the banks of the Narmada River in Gujarat. To inspire the youth with Patel’s ideals of nationalism and strength, the initiative Sardar@150 has been introduced, he added. He also cautioned that certain disruptive forces, both within and outside the country, are working against national integrity, and urged the youth to remain vigilant.
Calling for unity in diversity, the Chief Minister encouraged people to preserve and promote various languages, cultures, traditions, and heritage.
He further informed that on 6 October, the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports launched the Sardar@Young Leader Digital Portal through the MY Bharat platform. As part of this initiative, the Sardar Young Leader Program has been introduced to inspire young Indians. He noted that both the Prime Minister and the Union Home Minister have adopted a zero-tolerance policy towards drugs to build a Nasha-Mukt Bharat, a mission actively implemented in Tripura. Various awareness programmes are being conducted in educational institutions across the state.
Highlighting the importance of Vocal for Local, the Chief Minister stressed on increasing the production and usage of indigenous products to strengthen the nation’s economy and accelerate GDP growth. He reiterated that while the Prime Minister has set the vision of making India a developed nation by 2047, the state government is equally committed to building a “Developed Tripura.”
The Chief Minister also administered the Unity Pledge to all attendees.
Among those present were Youth Affairs & Sports Minister Tinku Roy, Acting Sabhadhipati of West Tripura Biswajit Seal, IPR Secretary Dr. P. K. Chakraborty, West Tripura District Magistrate Vishal Kumar, West Tripura SP Namit Pathak, IPR Director Bimbisar Bhattacharjee, Youth Affairs & Sports Director L. Darlong, Padma Shri Dipa Karmakar, and other dignitaries.
