Anti-drug bike rally with 550+ personnel heads to Statue of Unity for Oct 31 parade
Synopsis
More than 550 security personnel on 275-plus motorcycles are riding from multiple states to the Statue of Unity under the Fight Against Drugs banner, turning the National Unity Day parade build-up into a nationwide anti-narcotics awareness campaign with public pledge stops along the route.
Key Takeaways
More than 550 personnel from states, UTs, and CAPFs are riding in a national rally themed Fight Against Drugs .
Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel flagged off the rally from Gandhinagar Secretariat on 25 October .
45 teams across four zones are riding on more than 275 motorcycles toward Ekta Nagar .
The North Zone contingent was flagged off by Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi on 21 October .
All participants are scheduled to join the National Unity Day parade at the Statue of Unity on 31 October .
Awareness drives and pledge-taking sessions are being held at stops along the route, focused on youth.
More than 550 personnel from states, union territories, and Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) are riding across the country in a national motorcycle rally against drug abuse, converging on the Statue of Unity at Ekta Nagar in Gujarat ahead of the National Unity Day parade on 31 October. The rally, themed Fight Against Drugs, was flagged off on Sunday, 25 October by Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel from the Secretariat complex in Gandhinagar.
Scale and Structure of the Rally
Director General of Police (DGP) Gyanendra Singh Malik said 45 teams are participating across four zones, deploying more than 275 motorcycles. Five riders from each participating state joined the event, with representation from Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan, in addition to CAPF personnel. DGP Malik confirmed that teams from across the country would reach Ekta Nagar with the message of fighting drug abuse.
Route and Awareness Activities
The rally follows a multi-state corridor to Ekta Nagar, also known as Kevadia. The North Zone contingent was flagged off by Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi on 21 October, after which it moved through Haryana and Rajasthan before arriving in Gandhinagar. From Gandhinagar, the rally is proceeding through Anand and Vadodara before reaching its final destination. Awareness programmes and pledge-taking activities are being organised at stops along the route, with a particular focus on discouraging drug use among young people. The campaign carries the message: Say No to Drugs, Say Yes to Life.
Connection to National Unity Day
The rally forms part of the wider National Unity Day celebrations held annually on 31 October to mark the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, widely regarded as the architect of India's political integration after Independence. Ekta Nagar, located in Gujarat's Narmada district, is home to the Statue of Unity and serves as the focal point for the national parade. All participating rally contingents are scheduled to take part in the parade on that day.
Officials Present at the Flag-Off
Sanjeev Kumar, Principal Secretary of the Home Department and Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister, along with senior police officers, government officials, and security personnel, attended the flag-off ceremony in Gandhinagar. The high-profile attendance underscores the rally's positioning as a coordinated national outreach effort. With participants converging from virtually every corner of India, the initiative reflects a broader push to use high-visibility security events as platforms for public health messaging ahead of one of Gujarat's most-watched annual gatherings.
Point of View
But its real-world impact will depend on whether the awareness stops along the route feed into sustained local programmes or remain one-time spectacles. The rally's multi-state, multi-force composition signals coordinated intent at the Centre level, yet drug abuse data from states like Punjab and the northeast suggests the problem runs far deeper than a single march can address. Using Sardar Patel's birth anniversary as the backdrop adds symbolic weight, but the campaign's credibility will ultimately be measured by what follows after the motorcycles park at Ekta Nagar.
NationPress
25 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the anti-drug motorcycle rally heading to the Statue of Unity?
It is a national awareness rally under the theme Fight Against Drugs, involving more than 550 personnel from states, union territories, and CAPFs riding over 275 motorcycles to the Statue of Unity at Ekta Nagar, Gujarat. The rally was flagged off on 25 October by Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel and will culminate at the National Unity Day parade on 31 October.
Who flagged off the national anti-drug bike rally?
Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel flagged off the rally from the Secretariat complex in Gandhinagar on 25 October. The North Zone contingent was separately flagged off by Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi on 21 October.
What is National Unity Day and why is it held on October 31?
National Unity Day is observed on 31 October every year to mark the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, the statesman credited with unifying India's princely states after Independence. The main celebrations are held at Ekta Nagar in Gujarat's Narmada district, home to the Statue of Unity.
Which states and forces are participating in the rally?
Participants include five riders from each state and union territory, with confirmed representation from Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan, alongside Central Armed Police Forces personnel. In all, 45 teams are riding across four zones.
What happens along the route before the rally reaches Ekta Nagar?
Awareness programmes and pledge-taking activities are being organised at multiple stops along the route to discourage drug abuse, particularly among young people. After Gandhinagar, the rally is travelling through Anand and Vadodara before reaching its final destination at Ekta Nagar.
