nStarting this year, the Modi Government plans to hold grand celebrations of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s birth anniversary on October 31 annually near his Statue of Unity in Kevadia, Gujarat. And the scale of celebrations could be only second to the Republic Day parade on Rajpath in the national Capital. 

Interestingly, the legislation for removal of special status to Jammu and Kashmir and the creation of J&K and Ladakh as two separate Union Territories will also come into existence from the same day (October 31).

Top sources said the grand celebration of Sardar Patel’s birth anniversary, on the directions of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, will be held at the Statute of Unity with a joint exhibition and parade by a combination of 3-4 different states every year.

“The celebration will be nearly as grand as the Republic Day parade on Rajpath.  All agencies including Intelligence Bureau, Ministry of Home Affairs, Director General of all States and Union Territories and the Central Armed Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) and Central Police Organisations (CPOs) have been directed to initiate action in a time bound manner and communicate about the progress,” sources added.

The Modi Government celebrates Sardar Patel’s birth anniversary as National Integration Day or Rashtriya Ekta Divas after it came to power in 2014. The Government has also decided to set up a new annual award in name of Sardar Patel for individuals and police personnel who have dedicated themselves towards strengthening unity in the country. “The award of Sardar Patel will not be based on merely recommendation or nomination. It will purely be based on recipients work and dedication towards the country,” said the sources.

According to sources, the MHA has been given the task to prepare the modalities for the annual award. It will be given only to people who have been extraordinary in their work towards building the nation. “A committee would be constituted to select the officers as well as individual people and their work will be thoroughly vetted by Central Intelligence agencies,” sources said.

Besides, BJP also plans to carry out a padyatra on Sardar Patel’s birth anniversary

in the 199 constituencies where it couldn’t win in the

Lok Sabha polls.

The Statue of Unity, the world’s tallest statue was constructed at a cost of Rs 2,989 crore. The 182-metre sculpture has been dedicated to the nation. In the inauguration speech, Modi had said that the statue will be a reminder to the nation of Sardar Patel’s courage to thwart conspiracies to disintegrate India.