Chief Minister today paid tribute to India's first Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister of India Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on his 146th birth anniversary and said that Sardar Patel sacrificed every moment of his life for Ek Bharat, Shreshth Bharat.Earlier, the Chief Minister also paid floral tributes to former Prime Minister of India Indira Gandhi, who laid down her life for the unity and integrity of the nation. He also administered oath on the occasion.While addressing the people on the occasion, Chief Minister said that Sardar Patel always wanted India to be strong, inclusive, alert, polite and developed. He said that this day is observed as Rashtriya Ekta Diwas or National Unity Day since 2014 marking the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, who is credited with uniting all the 562 princely states of the pre-independent country to build the Republic of India.Jai Ram Thakur said that it was the Prime Minister Narendra Modi who decided to construct the Statue of Unity as a mark of respect to the colossal statue of Indian statesman and independence activist Saradar Patel. He said that this 182 meter world’s tallest statue was inaugurated by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 31st October 2018, on the 143rd birth anniversary of Sardar Patel.
While remembering former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on her 37th death anniversary celebrated as Rashtriya Sankalp Divas, Chief Minister said that Indira Gandhi played a major role in maintaining the unity and integrity of the nation. Jai Ram Thakur also appreciated the people of the State for strictly adhering to the SoPs of the State Government to help check spread of the corona virus. He said that State has emerged as the first State in the country to achieve the target of cent per cent first dose administration of Covid vaccine and now was poised to achieve the target of cent per cent vaccination of eligible age group by end of November this year. Chief Minister also administered Rashtriya Ekta Diwas pledge to the people on the occasion.An impressive march past was presented by the contingents of police, home guard, NCC, NSS and Scouts and Guides led by DSP Ankit Sharma.Urban Development Minister Suresh Bhardwaj, former Speaker Radha Raman Shastri, Mayor Shimla Municipal Corporation Satya Kaundal, Chairman HIMFED Ganesh Dutt, Chief Secretary Ram Subhag Singh, Director General of Police Sanjay Kundu, Secretary GAD Devesh Kumar, Deputy Commissioner Shimla Aditya Negi, Director Information and Public Relations Harbans Singh Brascon, senior civil, military and police officers were present on the occasion.