India united thanks to the strategic wisdom of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel: Narendra Modi

In the run-up to the first anniversary of the birth of the country's interior minister, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, on October 31, Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute to the leader and dedicated a "United India" to Patel's sagacity and strategic wisdom.

Modi, in the 49th episode of his monthly radio show "Mann Ki Baat", also paid tribute to former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.

"October 31 is also the anniversary of the death of our former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, our respectful homage to Indiraji," said Modi.

Recalling Patel's contribution to the unity of the nation, Modi said the leader had assured "the merger of all the princely states with the Indian dominion".

Patel formulated solutions one by one, weaving warp and weft together on the one-thread axis, and ensured the merger of all the princely states with the Dominion of India. whether it's Junagadh, Hyderabad, Travancore or, in this respect, the princely If we are able to see a united India now, it's entirely because of Patel's sagacity and strategic wisdom, "said Modi.

The Prime Minister also announced the unveiling of the "Statue of Unity" on Oct. 31 in Narmada District, Gujarat, as a tribute to Patel.

"Built on the banks of the Narmada River in Gujarat, the structure is twice as tall as the Statue of Liberty.It is the tallest statue in the world skyscrapers.Every Indian will now be proud of see the highest statue of the world here on Indian soil Patel a true son of the earth will also adorn our sky, "he added.

He urged people to participate in large numbers in the "Run for Unity", a nationwide marathon to mark the anniversary of Patel's birth.

"The youth of the country is ready to take part in the" Race to Unity. "The weather is also enjoyable and I urge you to participate as much as possible in this race for the unit."

Modi also linked Infantry Day – observed in commemoration of the first victorious military action led by the infantry in Jammu and Kashmir after independence to chase the Pakistani invaders – to Patel.

"We celebrated the day of the infantry yesterday (Saturday) … This incident also is directly related to Patel.I was reading an old interview of the famous army officer, Sam Manekshaw.In this interview, Manekshaw recalled the times when he was a colonel, and around that time military operations began in Kashmir.

"Marshal Manekshaw said that during a meeting, Patel was upset by the delay in sending troops to Kashmir." During the proceedings, Patel threw him a blow at Characteristic eye and repeated that there should be no delay in the operation of our army and that a solution and immediately after that, our troops flew to Kashmir, we we have seen the success of our army, "he said.