Government to commemorate Sardar Patel's birthday on October 31 as 'Rashtriya Ekta Divas'.

Government of India has decided to commemorate the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on October 31, as Rashtriya Ekta Divas or the National Integration Day. Briefing media persons, after attending an official meeting called by the Governor of Maharashtra in Mumbai today, Union Minister for Information & Broadcasting, Prakash Javadekar said, government wants to create awareness about the contribution of Sardar Patel during Indias Independence Movement and towards ensuring national integration in India. He said Sardar Patel, who is also known as the iron-man of India was instrumental in merger of princely states, to create a modern India, just after independence. Celebrating his birth anniversary as national integration day is very appropriate added the Minister. Union Energy Minister Piyush Goyal, who also attended todays meeting, said that awareness about Sardar Patels contribution is very low, which is very unfortunate. He said, recently he came to know that in the history book of Class X, there is mention of Sardar Patel only once.