Kishan Reddy pays floral tribute to Patel at Gun Park on Rashtriya Ekta Diwas
Synopsis
Union Minister G. Kishan Reddy joined Rashtriya Ekta Diwas observances on 31 October 2026 by offering floral tributes to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel's statue at Gun Park, Hyderabad, livestreaming the ceremony on the birth anniversary of India's Iron Man.
Key Takeaways
Union Coal and Mines Minister G.
Kishan Reddy paid floral tributes at the Sardar Patel statue at Gun Park, Hyderabad on 31 October 2026.
The occasion is Rashtriya Ekta Diwas (National Unity Day) , observed annually on Patel's birth anniversary.
The Government of India designated 31 October as Rashtriya Ekta Diwas in 2014.
Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel integrated over 500 princely states into the Indian Union after independence in 1947.
Kishan Reddy livestreamed the tribute, extending the ceremony to citizens across Telangana via social media.
On the birth anniversary of the man who stitched a nation together, Union Coal and Mines Minister G. Kishan Reddy offered floral tributes to the statue of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel at Gun Park, Hyderabad, on Saturday, 31 October 2026, marking Rashtriya Ekta Diwas — National Unity Day.
The Iron Man's statue at the heart of Hyderabad's commemoration
Gun Park in Hyderabad served as the venue for the official tribute, with Kishan Reddy livestreaming the ceremony — a gesture that extended the observance beyond the physical gathering to citizens across Telangana. The event was held under the banner of #RashtriyaEktaDiwas, the hashtag that trends nationally each year on this date.
Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, India's first Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister, is credited with the monumental task of integrating over 500 princely states into the Indian Union after independence in 1947 — earning him the enduring title 'Iron Man of India.'
A day the government designated to keep integration in public memory
The Government of India officially designated 31 October as Rashtriya Ekta Diwas in 2014, anchoring Patel's birth anniversary as a national moment of reflection on unity and integration. Every year since, central ministers, state leaders, and citizens across the country participate in pledge ceremonies, unity runs, and floral tributes at Patel statues and public venues.
As BJP's Telangana state president, Kishan Reddy's participation in Hyderabad carries both a national and a local symbolic weight — the city that sits at the geographic and political heart of the state Patel himself helped bring into the Indian fold.
Seventy-nine years after integration, the tribute at Gun Park is a reminder that the architecture of modern India was built one negotiation — and sometimes one firm decision — at a time.
Point of View
Unified governance. Kishan Reddy's choice to livestream the Gun Park ceremony reflects a broader strategy of making ritualistic commemorations digitally visible, particularly in a state like Telangana where the BJP continues to build its organisational presence. The day also provides a politically low-risk moment of patriotic signalling that transcends partisan lines. Over time, the consistency of such observances helps embed Patel's image within the BJP's governing narrative of national integration.
NationPress
31 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Rashtriya Ekta Diwas and when is it observed?
Rashtriya Ekta Diwas, or National Unity Day, is observed every year on 31 October — the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. The Government of India designated this date in 2014 to promote national integration and unity.
Why is Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel called the Iron Man of India?
Sardar Patel earned the title 'Iron Man of India' for his decisive role in integrating over 500 princely states into the Indian Union after independence in 1947 , serving as the country's first Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister.
Where is the Sardar Patel statue at Gun Park in Hyderabad?
Gun Park is a public site in Hyderabad, Telangana , that houses a statue of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and is used as an official venue for commemorations on Rashtriya Ekta Diwas and other national occasions.
What did G. Kishan Reddy do on Rashtriya Ekta Diwas 2026?
On 31 October 2026 , Union Coal and Mines Minister G. Kishan Reddy offered floral tributes at the Sardar Patel statue at Gun Park, Hyderabad , and livestreamed the event on social media under the hashtag #RashtriyaEktaDiwas.
What events happen on Rashtriya Ekta Diwas across India?
Rashtriya Ekta Diwas events typically include floral tributes at Sardar Patel statues, unity pledge ceremonies, and unity runs at government and public venues nationwide, with central ministers and state leaders participating in their respective regions.
