Sardar Patel Jayanti: CM Yogi Calls National Unity Every Citizen's Sacred Duty
Marking National Unity Day (Rashtriya Ekta Diwas) on the birth anniversary of Bharat Ratna Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on Saturday, October 31, 2026, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath paid rich tributes to the "Iron Man of India," hailing him as the principal architect of a unified modern nation. Addressing the people of Uttar Pradesh from the state capital, Lucknow, the Chief Minister extended heartfelt greetings and asserted that safeguarding national unity is the supreme, sacred responsibility of every Indian citizen. Adityanath emphasized that Sardar Patel’s life remains a living proclamation of the foundational truth that a country's enduring strength is rooted in its collective solidarity, and the true power of that unity flows directly from the uncompromising principle of "Nation First."
Dismantling Casteism and Appeasement: The Governance Shift in Uttar Pradesh Since 2017
Drawing a sharp distinction between current administrative priorities and previous dispensations, Chief Minister Yogi noted that prior to 2017, the political landscape of Uttar Pradesh was heavily marred by the politics of appeasement, entrenched casteism, and dynastic nepotism. He remarked that these divisive practices fractured social harmony, compromised communal peace, and weakened the bedrock of national unity. Under the visionary stewardship of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the double-engine government dismantled these barriers by establishing good governance anchored in the ethos of 'Nation First' and the developmental doctrine of Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas. This transformative governance approach, the Chief Minister underscored, has seamlessly woven Sardar Patel’s historic legacy of geographic integration into the contemporary realization of the Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat mission.
'Run for Unity' Call: Transforming 'Nation First, Always First' into a Collective Movement
Highlighting the public mobilization surrounding the day, Chief Minister Yogi urged people across the state to actively take part in the annual "Run for Unity" commemorations. Describing the initiative as far more than a ceremonial marathon, he framed the run as an essential platform to instill national pride, civic discipline, and social solidarity into the daily consciousness and conduct of every citizen. The Chief Minister issued a state-wide appeal for mass participation, stressing that every step taken during the run must stand as a tangible pledge toward safeguarding the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the motherland, solidifying the national resolve of "Nation First, Always First."
