A delegation of Gujarat Government called upon the Governor Baby Rani Maurya on Saturday and invited her to attend the ceremony to unveil the ‘Statue of Unity’ on October 31, the birth anniversary of the first Home Minister of India Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel, lauded as the ‘Iron Man’. A short movie informing about making of 182 ft-high statue which would be the tallest statue of the world-was also shown on the occasion.

Terming Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel as one of the best leaders India has ever produced, Maurya said that the ‘Statue of Unity’ is live model of his commitment towards a united India. She also thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for undertaking the initiative by way of paying homage to the great leader who not just unified the ancient land but inspired commitment in the countrymen to maintain the unity and integrity of the nation.

The Governor said that  the Statue of Unity would inspire the generations to come to maintain the unity and integrity of the motherland. It would embody the vision of a robust and united India as dreamt by the great leader who tirelessly worked for the same end till his death, she said.

The delegation included the Food and Civil Supplies Minster of Gujarat Jayesh Bhai Radadia, MLAs- Mukesh Patel, Raman Bhai Patel, Karsan Bhai Solanki and Yogesh Bhai Patel, secretary Mohammad Shahid, Director General of police T S Bisht and joint director Industries B S Mehta. The Gujarat Minister presented a replica of the statue of unity and idol of Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel to the Governor on the occasion.

Notably, the same delegation also had called upon the Chief Minister, Trivendra Singh Rawat, at his official residence here on Friday and invited him to participate in the unveiling ceremony of ‘Statue of Unity’ scheduled on October 31. The CM had termed Sardar Patel as a great patriot, an able administrator and also a farsighted politician and said that the ‘Statue of Unity’ would turn out to be a unique identity of united India.

Statue of Unity

Built at a cost of over Rs  2300 crore, the 182 ft high statue of the former Home Minister Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel would be the tallest statue in the world. In a mega event, the Prime Minister Narendra Modi would unveil the statue of the Iron Man of India. Located on a river island called ‘Sadhu Bet’, the Statue of unity lies 3.5 km away from the Narmada Dam.

Set on the bank of Narmada River overlooking Satpura and Vindhyachal hills, the sheer size of the monument built over a period of four years is expected to be major tourist attraction.