Country marks Sardar Patel's birth anniversary with 'Run for

The country today marked the 142nd birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel with 'Run for Unity' organised in many states and the Iron Man's contributions in uniting over 500 princely states recognised.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off the run at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium in New Delhi where the event saw the participation of a large number of people, including sports personalities like Sardar Singh, Deepa Karmakar, Suresh Raina and Karnam Malleswari.
The 1.5 km run in the national capital came to an end near the India Gate C-Hexagon-Shah Jahan Road radial.
PresidentRam Nath Kovind, Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu, the prime minister, and Home Minister Rajnath Singh paid floral tributes to Patel on Parliament street where his statue is installed.

Jharkhand Chief Minister Raghubar Das took part in the run in Ranchi on National Unity Day and said that Patel's will-power and vision had resulted in approximately 550 self- governing princely states merging with the country.
Das's Bihar counterpart, Nitish Kumar, paid floral tributes to Patel along with Bihar Governor Satya Pal Malik at a state function in Patna.

Union Minister Mahesh Sharma flagged off the run from the Noida Stadium and said that Patel had brought unity in the country. He also asked BJP workers to follow Patel's path and philosophy.
In West Bengal, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee remembered Patel's contribution to the nation amid controversy over the her government asking state institutes of higher education to ignore the Centre's directive of organising events to remember the Iron Man.

Jammu and Kashmir Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh at an event said Patel had played the biggest role in ensuring the accession of the state to the country.
He flagged off the 'Run for Unity' in Jammu and said that the run was for re-discovering Patel's legacy to unite the country.
The three-km run witnessed the participation of 15,000 to 20,000 people including school children, elders, sports- persons, artists and politicians.
Uttarakhand Governor K K Paul and Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat flagged off the run and described Patel as a great leader without whom the integration of India's princely states was not possible.

"The merger of over 500 princely states with the Union of India was not easy. It was Sardar Patel's firm will power, his political sagacity and farsightedness that helped the country overcome the challenge smoothly without bloodshed," Paul in Dehradun.
The chief minister made a strong pitch for organising programmes in educational institutions on the birthdays of great people such as Patel.
The run was flagged off from the Vidhan Sabha and concluded at the police lines.
Union Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi particpated in an Run for Unity' event at Rampur in Uttar Pradesh.