ITANAGAR, Oct 30 - Arunachal Pradesh Governor Brig (Dr) BD Mishra (retd) and Chief Minister Pema Khandu have greeted the people of the State on the eve of the Rashtriya Ekta Diwas (National Unity Day), which commemorates the birth anniversary of the Iron Man of India, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. They expressed the hope that the occasion would further strengthen the spirit of unity and integrity among the people of the State and the country.
The Governor said that Sardar Patel played a leading role in India�s freedom struggle and became the first Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister of India. He is credited with effecting political integration of India immediately after Independence. Sardar Patel undertook the colossal task of obtaining accession of over 562 princely States to India and gave a visible shape to �Indian unity in diversity�, he added.
In his message, Chief Minister Khandu said that due to the efforts of the Iron Man of India, the country was integrated as one entity in the years following India�s Independence.
He said that this year, the National Unity Day has a special significance as it marks the completion of the task of making Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh an integral part of India by abrogating Article 370. �This truly represents the dream of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel of an integrated India,� he added.
