Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday administered the “Pledge of Unity” to the participants of the National Unity Day celebrations at the ‘Statue of Unity’ in Gujarat on the 150th birth anniversary of the country’s first Home Minister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.
In the morning, Prime Minister Modi reached the 182 meter high statue of Patel near Ekta Nagar in Narmada district of Gujarat and paid floral tributes to the Iron Man of India.
After this he proceeded to a nearby venue, where he administered the Unity Day pledge to the people present and witnessed the National Unity Day Parade.
Through this oath the participants reiterated their commitment to maintain the unity, integrity and security of the nation. The importance of spreading this message among the countrymen was also emphasized in the oath.
This year’s National Unity Day celebrations include a cultural festival and a National Unity Day parade of police and paramilitary forces.
The major highlight of this year’s celebrations was the ‘Republic Day style’ parade of the armed forces with decorated tableaux.
The parade included 10 tableaux from National Security Guard (NSG), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Gujarat, Jammu and Kashmir, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Manipur, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Uttarakhand and Puducherry, reflecting ‘Unity in Diversity’.
The cultural program presented by 900 artistes on the parade route showcased classical dances of India, representing the richness and diversity of Indian culture.
Contingents of Border Security Force (BSF), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) and Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) participated in the parade.
In a display of women empowerment in the security forces, Prime Minister Modi took the ceremonial salute from the police and paramilitary force contingents, all of whom were led by women officers.
The main attractions of this year’s parade include the BSF marching contingent. It included a dog team of Indian breeds, including dogs of breeds like Rampur Hounds and Mudhol Hounds. The courageous display of Assam Police on motorcycles and the camel squad of BSF and the band riding on camels were also the center of attraction.
The parade also honored five Shaurya Chakra winners of the CRPF and 16 gallantry medal winners of the BSF, who displayed extraordinary courage in anti-Naxal operations in Jharkhand and anti-terrorist operations in Jammu and Kashmir. Indian Air Force presented ‘Fly-past’ under ‘Operation Surya Kiran’.
