Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi fulfilled Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s long-standing vision of a truly unified India by abrogating Article 370 in Jammu & Kashmir. Shah made these remarks while flagging off the ‘Run for Unity’ in New Delhi on the 150th birth anniversary of India’s first Home Minister, Sardar Patel.
Addressing the gathering at Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium, Shah recalled that after independence, India was left divided into 562 princely states. “The world believed it was impossible to unite such a vast number of territories,” he said. “But Sardar Patel, through determination and strong leadership, integrated all 562 princely states, giving shape to the modern India we know today.”
He added that while most regions merged willingly, some resisted — yet Patel’s resolve ensured unity. According to Shah, the only part not fully integrated until recent times was Jammu & Kashmir. “Because of Article 370, Jammu and Kashmir was not fully merged with India,” Shah said. “It was Prime Minister Narendra Modi who completed Patel’s mission by abrogating Article 370, giving us a truly unified ‘Akhand Bharat’.”
Shah also criticized past governments, stating that Sardar Patel did not receive due recognition for decades and was only awarded the Bharat Ratna after 41 years. He said no significant tribute or memorial was built until Narendra Modi, as Gujarat Chief Minister, conceptualized the Statue of Unity.
Describing the memorial, Shah noted that the 182-metre statue was built in 57 months using nearly 25,000 tonnes of iron collected from farmers’ tools across India, along with 90,000 cubic meters of concrete and 1,700 tonnes of bronze. Today, the Statue of Unity is a global landmark, having welcomed over 2.5 crore visitors.
Earlier in the day, Shah paid floral tributes to Sardar Patel and posted on X, calling Patel the symbol of India’s unity and farmers’ empowerment. “Sardar Sahab believed the heart of India’s development lies in the prosperity of farmers,” he wrote, urging citizens to protect the legacy of justice, unity, and national integrity.
Since 2014, October 31 has been celebrated as National Unity Day to honor Patel’s contributions. Across India, events were held to commemorate his role in uniting more than 550 princely states. A grand tribute was scheduled in Kevadia, Gujarat, where Prime Minister Modi was set to attend and take the salute.
