New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on his birth anniversary on Sunday. While addressing the nation on the National Unity Day via a video message amid his visit to Italy and UK, PM Modi said that Today the nation is paying tribute to Sardar Patel who gave his life for ‘Ek Bharat, Shrestha Bharat’.

He further said that Sardar Patel not only lives in history but also in the hearts of all Indians. PM Modi said, “Today, due to his inspiration, India is becoming capable of dealing with all kinds of challenges, external and internal. In the last 7 years, the country got rid of decades-old unwanted laws.”

The Prime Minister said that India isn’t just a geographical unit. It’s a nation that’s full of the standards of ideals, resolutions, civilisation, culture. The land where 135 crores Indians live, is an integral part of our soul, our dreams, our aspirations.

PM further said that our goals can only be met if we stay united. Sardar Patel always wanted India to be strong, inclusive, sensitive, alert, polite & developed. He always gave importance to the nation’s interest.

Prime Minister Modi also said that the ideals that cherish national unity have been given by Sardar Patel have taken the country to new heights. Be it J&K, Northeast, or any village in the Himalayas, today all are on the path of progress. The development of modern infrastructure in the country is reducing the gap between geographical and historic distances.

PM Modi further said that to secure its interest, India has started a journey on a new mission of ‘Aatmanirbhar’. The Prime Minister urged the citizens of the country to remember Sardar Patel’s saying that “by common endeavour, we can raise the country to a new greatness while lack of unity will expose us to face calamities”.

The Prime Minister said that decades ago, even in that period, the strength of Sardar Patel’s movements was that they involved the collective energy of men, women, every class, every sect.

PM said that today when we talk of ‘Ek Bharat’, we think what should be its nature? PM said that Indian women have equal opportunities and the right to dream the same and that means ‘Ek Bharat’.

Reiterating his slogan of Vocal for Local, PM Modi said that when we talk about being together it means working towards a common goal, hence when people go to buy anything for themselves they should always keep in mind that their purchase of goods should make India self reliant by buying from the Indian vendors.