Gandhinagar, 30 October 2013

Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi today said that the world’s tallest Statue of Unity being built near the Sardar Sarovar Project (SSP) main dam on the Narmada will strike the right chord of people from every state. The campaign for people’s participation to collect iron tools for the statue from all over the country to turn into a mass movement on Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s death anniversary from December 15.

Addressing a workshop on people’s participation for the state at Mahatma Mandir here, Mr. Modi recalled that the modern India, Pakistan and Bangladesh had once jointly fought for Independence from 1857 to 1947 – whether the freedom struggle was led by armed revolutionaries or non-violent satyagrahis. This is an occasion for all of us to rise to the occasion for this great cause.

The workshop was attended by representatives of youth and voluntary organizations from different states and that of teams from Gujarat fanning out to different states, comprising ministers, conveners, office-bearers, members of Parliament, and Legislative Assemblies.

Mr. Modi said that maximum number of people from all walks of life and mainly the youth should join the campaign with one resolution, one goal, one direction in one voice and one determination to make it a truly pan-India campaign. He said that India has been a witness to such disciplined joint participation on religious occasions. It is to apply the same purpose in building the State of Unity, too. It is imperative to tell the modern generation Sardar Patel’s exemplary contribution in making modern India.

At the outset, Gujarat’s Chief Secretary Varesh Sinha, Sardar Sarovar Narmada Nigam Limited (SSNL) Managing Director J. N. Singh explained the details of the project. Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Rashtriya Ekta Trust Member-Secretary K. Shriniwas made PowerPoint Presentation.

Prominent among those participated in the workshop included Vidhan Sabha Speaker Vajubhai Vala, Ministers and office-bearers.