Kohima, October 26 (MExN): Governor of Nagaland, PB Acharya in his Rashtriya Ekta Diwas (National Unity Day) message today remembered “our” great freedom fighter, Rani Gaidinliu and her soldiers. “I value very much the contributions of Naga leaders who fought the British for freedom from the slavery. Today we remember our soldiers who sacrificed their life for independence movement of our country,” he stated in the message released to the media from Raj Bhavan.
Introduced by the Government of India in 2014, Rashtriya Ekta Diwas is celebrated on October 31 to pay tribute to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on his birth anniversary. Acharya pointed out that Vallabhbhai Patel was instrumental in strengthening India.
“This occasion will provide an opportunity to re-affirm the inherent strength and resilience of our nation to withstand the actual and potential threats to the unity, integrity and security of our country,” the Governor stated. “Today we not only pay our tribute to the Iron Man of India but also pledge ourselves to successfully eradicate naxalism and insurgency which is weakening our Unity.”
Acharya further appealed to all the NGOs, youth organizations, higher education institutions and colleges to observe the Rashtriya Ekta Saptah from October 31 to November 6 by organizing activities like pledge-taking ceremony, unity runs, march past, plays, slogan writing contests, felicitation of freedom fighters and recording of their stories, etc. This year, a nationwide campaign under the theme ‘Nation salutes Sardar Vallabhai Patel on Rashtriya Ekta Saptah’ is being organized to honour the memory of Sardar Patel by conducting programmes and events reflecting his efforts in unifying the country.
