CM Dhami Marks Rashtriya Ekta Diwas, Honours Sardar Patel
Synopsis
Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami marked Rashtriya Ekta Diwas on 31 October 2026 by honouring Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel's legacy, praising the Statue of Unity and drawing a line of continuity to PM Modi's national-unity agenda.
Key Takeaways
Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami posted a tribute to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on his 151st birth anniversary, 31 October 2026 .
Dhami credited Patel with laying the foundation of a 'strong and united India' through willpower, courage and far-sighted leadership.
He linked that legacy to PM Narendra Modi's current governance, describing it as carrying Patel's resolve forward 'with new energy and grandeur.' The Statue of Unity in Kevadia, Gujarat — the world's tallest statue at 182 metres , inaugurated in 2018 — was cited as the enduring symbol of Patel's contribution.
Rashtriya Ekta Diwas was instituted by the Government of India in 2014 to mark Patel's birth anniversary annually on 31 October .
On the 151st birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami paid tribute to the 'Iron Man of India' on Saturday, 31 October 2026, invoking Patel's foundational role in forging a unified nation and connecting that legacy directly to the present government's vision under Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Writing in Hindi, CM Dhami said Patel — honoured with the Bharat Ratna — 'laid the foundation of a strong and united India through his firm willpower, indomitable courage and far-sighted leadership.' He added that under PM Modi's stewardship, 'that very resolve of national unity, integrity and a powerful nation is being carried forward with new energy and grandeur.'
The Iron Man's integration legacy and its modern symbol
Sardar Patel served as India's first Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister after 1947, overseeing the integration of more than 500 princely states into the Indian Union — a feat that arguably defined the country's territorial shape for all time. Dhami's post highlights the Statue of Unity at Kevadia, Gujarat as a 'glorious symbol' of that unmatched contribution to nation-building.
The statue — the world's tallest, standing at 182 metres — was inaugurated by PM Narendra Modi on 31 October 2018, the centenary of Patel's birth anniversary, transforming the riverine site in Gujarat into one of India's most-visited landmarks. Kevadia has since been developed with tourism and infrastructure investment as part of a broader central government vision.
Rashtriya Ekta Diwas: a BJP-era national ritual
The Government of India declared 31 October as Rashtriya Ekta Diwas — National Unity Day — in 2014, the year PM Modi first took office, to permanently anchor Patel's legacy in the national calendar. Every year since, state governments, central ministries and BJP leaders have used the occasion to simultaneously celebrate Patel and signal continuity between his vision and the current administration's agenda.
CM Dhami's post, tagged #RashtriyaEktaDiwas2026 and #SardarVallabhbhaiPatel, fits squarely into that annual pattern — but it also reflects Uttarakhand's place in a wider chorus of state-level observances that amplify the day's national resonance.
On a day when the nation pauses to remember the man who stitched it together, the message from Dehradun is simple: the work of unity, Dhami argues, is not history — it is an ongoing project.
Point of View
Joining this national chorus also reinforces his alignment with the central leadership ahead of any future political calculus in Uttarakhand. The annual repetition of this messaging, amplified from every BJP-governed state, cements Rashtriya Ekta Diwas as a partisan-inflected national institution rather than a purely civic one.
NationPress
31 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Rashtriya Ekta Diwas and why is it celebrated on 31 October?
Rashtriya Ekta Diwas, or National Unity Day, is observed every year on 31 October to mark the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel . The Government of India instituted the observance in 2014 to honour Patel's role in integrating over 500 princely states into independent India.
What did CM Dhami say about Sardar Patel on Rashtriya Ekta Diwas 2026?
Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami said Patel laid the foundation of a 'strong and united India' through firm willpower, indomitable courage and far-sighted leadership, and drew a parallel with PM Modi's governance continuing that legacy with 'new energy and grandeur.'
Where is the Statue of Unity and who built it?
The Statue of Unity is located in Kevadia, Gujarat . It was constructed under the central government's initiative and inaugurated by PM Narendra Modi on 31 October 2018 . At 182 metres , it is the world's tallest statue and is dedicated to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel .
What was Sardar Patel's role in building modern India?
Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel served as India's first Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister after independence in 1947 . He is credited with the integration of more than 500 princely states into the Indian Union, a process that defined the country's territorial boundaries.
Why does the BJP connect PM Modi's government to Sardar Patel's legacy?
The BJP has consistently positioned Sardar Patel as a symbol of strong, decisive and unifying leadership. By institutionalising Rashtriya Ekta Diwas and building the Statue of Unity , the party argues that PM Modi's government is the natural inheritor of Patel's nation-building vision.
