Lucknow: Chief minister Yogi Adityanath has called for the defeat of divisive forces in India, saying that they are a threat to national security. Speaking at the 151st birth anniversary celebrations of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel in Lucknow on Saturday, the CM said that those who were attempting to shred on the basis of caste, region and language could not be true followers of Patel.“National unity is threatened when people become divided and weakened along caste and regional lines. Just as the body falls ill when its immunity is compromised, Jaativaad, Kshetravaad, Bhashavaad weaken the immunity of society and invite aggressors to attack. Only those who place India’s unity and security above everything else can be true followers of the Iron Man,” the CM said, adding, “Those who regard Jinnah as an ideal and seek to divide society cannot be true followers of Patel.”The CM first offered floral tributes at Patel’s statue at the GPO and then administered the National Unity Day pledge to people. “The pledge reflects the very spirit and ideals for which Sardar Patel dedicated his life. He was the architect of the Republic of India, a freedom fighter and a prominent nationalist leader,” the CM said.Recalling that PM Narendra Modi had taken the decision to mark Oct 31 as National Unity Day in 2014, Yogi said the day is marked by the National Unity pledge, the Run for Unity and various initiatives aimed at bringing society together, inspired by the ideals of Patel. To keep alive his legacy, the CM added, the state govt had launched a programme to set up an employment and industrial zone in every district. He said: “No youth in UP will remain unemployed. Govt is systematically expanding programmes for skill development and employment to ensure better opportunities for the state’s youth.”Talking about Patel’s life, the CM said that he was born in the small village of Karamsad in Gujarat. To honour his legacy, PM had also facilitated the installation of the world’s tallest statue dedicated to Patel at Kevadia in Gujarat, on the banks of Narmada near the Sardar Sarovar Dam. The statue reflects the towering personality and stature of Sardar Patel, he said.Elaborating on Patel’s role in uniting India after independence, the CM recalled how Patel integrated more than 563 princely states into the Indian Republic. “At the time of India’s Independence, the rulers of Junagadh and Hyderabad were reluctant to merge their territories with India. The Nawab subsequently fled to Pakistan, abandoning even his children. Today, Junagadh is an integral part of India. The Nizam of Hyderabad had unleashed widespread massacres, targeting Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists and Jains, while also forcing religious conversions. He refused to follow any protocol. However, when the Iron Man issued a warning, the Nizam too was forced to flee. Today, Hyderabad and all the princely territories under it are part of India,” the CM said.He then spoke about the imposition of Article 370 in Kashmir, which was opposed by Dr BR Ambedkar, but Congress went ahead despite his objections. The matter was eventually resolved by PM Modi and home minister Amit Shah, the CM said, calling them the architects of ‘Ek Bharat-Shreshtha Bharat’ for having abrogated Article 370.“There will no longer be two sets of laws in India. The principle of ‘Ek Desh Mein Ek Pradhan, Ek Vidhan, Ek Nishan’ will prevail. Attempts are being made to pose challenges to national unity and undermine constitutional institutions by placing them under scrutiny. Everyone must collectively confront these challenges,” the CM said.
