Centre to organise 'Run for Unity' Oct 31

The central government will organise a "Run for Unity" Oct 31 to mark the birth anniversary of India's first home minister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.

A large number of people, particularly youth and school children, will participate in the run to be organised across the country, an official release said here Sunday.

The event to be held in all major cities, district towns and other places in rural areas is expected to draw all sections of the society, particularly youth from colleges, National Cadet Corps and the National Service Scheme.

In the national capital, the run will be organised from Vijay Chowk to India Gate on Rajpath at 8.30 a.m.

"The birth anniversary of Sardar Patel will provide all of us an opportunity to reaffirm the inherent strength and resilience of our nation to withstand the actual and potential threats to the unity, integrity and security of our country," union Home Minister Rajnath Singh was quoted as saying in the release.

He appealed to people to participate enthusiastically in large numbers to pay rich tributes to the "real national hero".

The home minister said the run was part of the elaborate celebrations planned by the government to observe the birth anniversary of Patel as the "Rashtriya Ekta Diwas" (National Unity Day) Oct 31 every year.

A function to pay floral tributes to Patel will be held at Patel Chowk on Parliament Street at 8 a.m. Oct 31.

The government has also decided to hold other programmes to mark the occasion.

A pledge-taking ceremony will be organised in all government offices, public sector undertakings and other public institutions to observe "Rashtriya Ekta Diwas".