PM Narendra Modi takes oath of unity on Sardar Patel's anniversary, flags off ‘Run for Unity’

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday paid floral tributes to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on his birth anniversary. He then made the countrymen take an oath of unity, aimed at protecting and preserving the diversity of the nation. Following a public address, the Prime Minister flagged off  ‘Run for Unity’. As many as 15,000 people, of which many are government officials, are participating in the event.

Here are the latest updates:

# Prime Minister Narendra Modi flags off 'Run for Unity".

# Main sabse nishtha se shapath leta hun ki main rashtra ki ekta, akhandta aur surakshha ko banaye rakhne ke liye, swayam ko samarpit karunga, aur apne deshwasiyon ke beech yeh sandesh failaane ka bhi bharsak prayatna karunga. Main yeh shapath apne desh ki ekta ki bhawna se le raha hun, jisey Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel ki doordarshita evam karyon dwara sambhaw banaya ja sakaa. Main apne desh ki antrik surakshha sunishchit karne ke liye apna yogdaan karne ka nishtha se sankalp karta hun: PM Modi asks the country to take oath of unity.

# I invite you for a oath on Bharatiya Ekta Diwas, says PM Modi.

# It is the responsibility of every Indian to ensure that the country gifted to us by Sardar Patel does not fail, says PM Modi.

# We are the country who can accept all the cultures of the world, this is our legacy, this is our path to a bright future, says PM Modi.

# We have forgotten Sardar Patel. But with 'Run for Unity', the country is again remembering its greatest hero, says PM Modi.

# Sardar Patel united the country using all possible means, says PM Modi.

# Today's generation has not been told much about the contributions of Sardar Patel, says PM Modi.

# Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses a gathering ahead of flagging off 'Run for Unity'.

During his ‘Mann Ki Baat’, PM Modi had appealed to the public to participate in the Run for Unity events being organised across the country and be a part of “this festival of harmony”.

“We can learn a lot from the extraordinary journey of this great son of India,” the Prime Minister had said.

We salute Sardar Patel on his Jayanti. His momentous service and monumental contribution to India can never be forgotten. pic.twitter.com/t9TFeii3IP — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 31, 2017

Earlier in the day PM Modi paid floral tributes to India's first union home minister.

“We salute Sardar Patel on his Jayanti. His momentous service and monumental contribution to India can never be forgotten,” the PM tweeted.

President Ram Nath Kovind, Vice President Venkaiah Naidu and Home Minister Rajnath Singh also paid tributes to Sardar Patel on his birth anniversary.

The Prime Minsiter also paid tributes to former prime minister Indira Gandhi on her death anniversary.