<div><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Rashtriya Ekta Diwas, the birthday of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, is being celebrated today. Several events are being held by various Ministries, Public Sector Undertakings and organisations across the country. People all over the country will take a pledge to protect the unity and integrity of India and participate in the Run for Unity programme. </span></div> <br />''In New Delhi, President Ram Nath Kovind, Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu, Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Delhi Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal, Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Hardeep Puri paid floral tributes at the statue of Sardar Patel at Patel Chowk in Parliament Street. <br />''<br />''<br />''The Home Minister also flagged off the Run for Unity from Major Dhyanchand Stadium this morning. He also administered unity pledge to the participants. Speaking on the occasion, Mr Singh said, India is known for its diversity and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel had ensured that the country remains united with its uniqueness. <br />''<br />''<br />''He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been working relentlessly with the country's first home minister's objective of making India strong and keeping it united. Mr Singh said, Sardar Patel is the symbol of India's unity and he brought the country's 562 principalities under the fold of the union and had achieved this task within a very short span of 70 days through a bloodless revolution. <br />''<br />''<br />''Asserting that Patel could achieve this success due to his political acumen, indomitable zeal and farsightedness, the home minister said, otherwise we would have to go to these places with visa and passport. He said, it was Patel, also known as the 'Iron Man of India', who had ensured that the country remains united with its uniqueness of diversity in religion, language and culture. <br />''<br />''<br />''He said the first home minister of the country had inculcated the spirit of nationalism across India and always believed in taking everyone along in the march towards progress. The Minister said, Sardar Patel had dreamt of an India which is always strong and united and Prime Minister Narendra Modi is working in that direction by taking everyone along.<br />'' <br />'' <br />''HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar, Science and Technology Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan, Minister for Sports, Information and Broadcasting Rajyavardhan Rathore, Sports legends Zafar Iqbal, Karnam Malleshwari, MC Mary Kom, Dipa Karmakar were also present on the occasion.<br />'' <br />''The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting will telecast the film 'Sardar' on Doordarshan, play radio and TV jingles and will run features on the life and achievements of Sardar Patel. Talk shows and interviews based programmes or live phone-in programmes on 'Integration of India will also be telecast by the Ministry. The Central Armed Police Forces will actively participate in State-level and other field level functions and will organise March pasts.<br />'' <br />''The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) will organise pledge taking in Indian Missions. Essay and Quiz Competitions, debates, short films, photo exhibition etc. will be organised in offices of MEA and in the Indian Missions. It will arrange 'Talks' on life and contribution of Sardar Patel in cooperation with 'Friendship Societies' and 'Think Tanks'.<br />'' <br />''The Ministry of Railways will organise pledge and March Past at its Zonal and Divisional Headquarters. Under the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, various events such as Run for Unity, pledge, floral tribute, competitions involving all citizens of Tier-I and Tier-II cities including SMART and AMRUT cities and towns will be organised.<br />'' <br />''The Ministry of Culture will organise activities including essay, quiz competitions, lectures and symposium at Sahitya Academy and other programmes at Zonal Cultural Centres. The National School of Drama will organize a special play on Sardar Patel.<br />'' <br />''The Human Resource Development Ministry is organising essay competitions, Run for Unity, pledge in 2000 Kendriya and Navodaya Vidyalayas, drawing the participation of a huge number of students. <br />''<br />''<br />''<span style="color: #222222;">The students will also be encouraged to speak simple sentences or words in constitutionally recognised 22 Indian languages for 22 consecutive days – one language every day.The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas will organise programmes in all oil PSUs. </span>