To fullfill Sardar Patel's unity dream, ways of violence will not work: Modi

Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said that there was a need to send out a strong message to anti-social elements seeking to spread mayhem across the country, adding that the unity of the nation would be maintained at all costs, and that their use of guns and bombs to promote their brand of violence will not work.

Writing in his blog on the eve of the 135th birth anniversary of India's first Home Minister Sardar Patel, the foundation stone of whose statue will be unveiled at Sadhu Bet on Thursday, Modi said: "There are forces within our country that have used guns and bombs to scare and mislead the people. From the nation of Lord Buddha, Mahatma Gandhi and Sardar Patel, let us send a strong message to these elements that their ways of violence will not work."

"They should alter their path, join the mainstream and work for the development of our nation so that the dreams of stalwarts like Sardar Patel are fulfilled," he added.

Describing Sardar Patel as the architect of modern India, the Gujarat Chief Minister said the year 2013 should be seen as a special one because on the occasion of Patel's birth anniversary, the state government is laying the foundation stone of the Statue of Unity.

"At a height of 182 metres, the State of Unity would be among the tallest statues in the world, celebrating and paying tributes to the Iron Man of India. The Statue of Unity would be situated at Sadhu Bet, which is close to the Sardar Sarovar Dam. We are building the statue through PPP model and with latest technology," Modi said.

He said that it was particularly laudable that his appeal to his " farmer sisters and brothers from all over India" to contribute their iron tools to build the statue, had been met unanimously.

"After all, Sardar Patel was not only a Loh Purush (Iron Man), but also a Kisan Putra (son of a farmer). I once again appeal to everyone to support us in this endeavour," Modi said.

"Sardar Patel is the architect of modern India. Overcoming various obstacles, he integrated the entire nation, and today, if we can celebrate our unity, it is due to the efforts of Sardar Patel. Yet, it is equally true that there are forces within our country that are threatened by this unity," the Gujarat Chief Minister said.