Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 31 October attended the Rashtriya Ekta Diwas celebrations at the Parade Ground in Ekta Nagar, Narmada district, Gujarat, marking the 151st birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. The annual observance, held at the foot of the Statue of Unity, brought together security forces, cultural troupes and citizens from across the country to honour Patel's legacy of national integration.

The Ekta Parade: Forces and Formations

The centrepiece of the day was the Ekta Parade, which featured 16 marching contingents drawn from nine states, one Union Territory, four Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs), and the National Cadet Corps (NCC), accompanied by a marching band. Contingents from state police forces and central police organisations took part alongside the CAPFs.

Special attractions included an NSG 'Hell March' contingent, daredevil motorcycle displays by personnel — both men and women — of the Border Security Force (BSF) and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), and a demonstration blending different Indian martial arts by the BSF. A piped band performance by schoolchildren and a 'Surya Kiran' flypast by the Indian Air Force were also among the highlights. Modi administered the National Unity Pledge as part of the observance.

Naxal-Free India Claim Takes Centre Stage

This year's celebrations placed particular emphasis on the government's assertion that armed Naxalism has been brought to an end in India. The Union Home Ministry had indicated that police and CAPF contingents at the forefront of anti-Left-Wing Extremism operations would feature prominently, with short films highlighting their work screened as contingents passed the Prime Minister.

A theatrical presentation titled 'Naxal Mukt Bharat', organised by the National School of Drama, involved around 2,000 artistes drawn from 126 districts that had experienced armed Naxalism. The performance depicted the hardships faced by communities in conflict-affected areas and their transition towards peace and development. Around 5,000 people from these districts were invited to attend the celebrations.

Cultural Programme and Citizen-Designed Tableaux

The cultural programme and tableaux were built around the theme 'Vande Mataram', marking 150 years of the national song. Around 5,000 artistes from across India participated in a cultural presentation representing the country's regional traditions and the spirit of 'Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat'.

Notably, the tableaux this year were based on designs submitted by citizens through national-level and Gujarat-level competitions — a departure from the conventional practice of having government departments and state governments design them.

Tributes, Inaugurations and Infrastructure Push

Earlier in the day, Modi paid floral tributes to Sardar Patel at the Statue of Unity, which stands near the Sardar Sarovar Dam. He also inaugurated and laid the foundation stones for 31 tourism and infrastructure projects worth ₹426.71 crore in Ekta Nagar, and visited the 'Rain Forest' and 'Vaman Vriksha Vatika' attractions in the area.

Rashtriya Ekta Diwas has been observed every year on 31 October since it was instituted to commemorate Patel's birth anniversary and his pivotal role in integrating the princely states into the Indian Union after Independence. The annual gathering at Ekta Nagar has grown into one of the largest security-force parades outside the national capital.