Ekta Nagar (Gujarat), October 31. Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Friday that Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel wanted to integrate the entire region of Jammu and Kashmir into India just like other princely states, but the then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru did not allow it to happen.

As per agency report, addressing the gathering near the Statue of Unity in Ekta Nagar during the National Unity Day parade, Modi said that infiltration was disturbing India’s demographic balance and that a decisive battle had been launched against it. He added that Sardar Patel believed in making history through hard work rather than spending time writing it. After India’s independence, Patel successfully integrated more than 550 princely states into the Indian Union, a feat once considered impossible.

The Prime Minister said that the policies and decisions of Sardar Patel created new history, and for him, the idea of “Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat” (One India, Great India) was of utmost importance. Targeting the Congress party, Modi said that India had to pay a heavy price for the mistakes committed by the party on the Kashmir issue.

He stated that Patel had wanted complete integration of Jammu and Kashmir into India, but Nehru did not allow his wish to be fulfilled. As a result, Kashmir was partitioned and given a separate constitution and flag, a blunder that cost the nation dearly for decades. Modi remarked that while Sardar Patel valued national sovereignty above all, the governments that followed failed to uphold it with the same seriousness.

Referring to national challenges, Modi said that the mistakes made in Kashmir, the unrest in the Northeast, and the spread of Naxal-Maoist movements were all serious threats to the nation’s sovereignty. He accused previous governments of abandoning Patel’s firm policies and adopting a weak and indecisive approach. He further alleged that due to Congress’s soft stance, a part of Kashmir fell under Pakistan’s illegal occupation, which later fueled state-sponsored terrorism.

Highlighting the government’s actions, Modi said that by revoking Article 370, Kashmir had been fully integrated into the national mainstream. He asserted that both Pakistan and terrorist groups now understood India’s true strength. Referring to Operation Sindoor, he said the world had witnessed India’s resolve to eliminate any threat by striking at its source, declaring, “This is Sardar Patel’s India.”

Speaking on the government’s campaign against Naxalism, Modi stated that the fight would continue until the menace was eradicated completely. Before 2014, around 125 districts were affected by Maoist violence, which has now been reduced to 11, with only three districts still under its influence.

He warned that illegal immigrants pose a serious threat to India’s unity and internal security, alleging that they were encroaching upon national resources and disrupting demographic balance. He accused previous governments of ignoring this issue for vote-bank politics but asserted that India had now decided to take decisive action against infiltrators. Modi emphasized that the nation must reaffirm its resolve on National Unity Day to ensure that every illegal migrant is expelled from the country.

Criticizing the Congress party further, Modi said it inherited a “colonial mindset” from British rulers and accused it of fostering political untouchability in India. He questioned how Congress governments treated leaders like Sardar Patel, Babasaheb Ambedkar, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia, and Jayaprakash Narayan, alleging that they were sidelined or disrespected both during and after their lifetimes.

The Prime Minister also claimed that Congress had even altered portions of the national song “Vande Mataram” on religious grounds, calling it a divisive act that advanced the British agenda and laid the foundation for India’s partition.

Amid ongoing language debates in some states, Modi clarified that every Indian language is a national language and that no language should ever be imposed upon others. He said that India’s hundreds of languages and dialects reflect the country’s inclusive and creative spirit, making it one of the most linguistically rich nations in the world. He expressed pride that India has Tamil, one of the world’s oldest languages, and Sanskrit, the language of knowledge. Modi reiterated that the government wants every child to progress in their mother tongue.

Before his address, the Prime Minister inspected the National Unity Day parade, which featured contingents from police and paramilitary forces marching near the Statue of Unity.

Kevadia, Jan 11 (IANS) The Statue of Unity (SOU) Jungle Safari Park in Ekta Nagar has become home to three exotic animals: An orangutan, a white lion, and a jaguar.

These species, hailing from different corners of the world, have been provided with specially-tailored accommodations to ensure their comfort and well-being in their new environment.

The SOU Jungle Safari is a sanctuary for 186 animal species from different continents, including Africa, Australia, Asia, and the Americas.

White lions, a rare variation found primarily in Africa, are known for their distinctive colour caused by a genetic condition. Orangutans, the intelligent and expressive red apes, are native to the rainforests of Indonesia and Malaysia, while jaguars, the powerful and elusive big cats, roam the forests of South America.

Spanning an area of 375 acres and distributed across seven distinct levels, the park is situated along the picturesque banks of the Narmada River, with varying elevations from 29 metres to an impressive 180 metres.

Notably, the park also provides a haven for several endangered species native to India, such as the Asiatic Lion, the Royal Bengal Tiger, and the cheetah, allowing visitors to see these majestic creatures up close.

The safari route enables visitors to observe various animal activities, along with various reptiles and birds.

The animal clusters in the park are arranged to represent their respective continents, providing an authentic glimpse into the diverse habitats of these species.

The mountainous terrain of the Vindhyachal region, where the park is located, offers an ideal natural habitat for these animals.

Kevadiya, Gujarat, October 31, 2023: A unity parade was organized on the theme of "Unity in Diversity" on the occasion of National Unity Day at the Statue of Unity in Kevadiya, Gujarat, on Tuesday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the tribute to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, the Iron Man of India, by showering flowers on the statue from a helicopter.

The unity parade was led by IPS Korukanda Siddhartha and featured contingents from the Gujarat Police, paramilitary forces, and various security agencies. Special attractions of the parade included:

• Women CRPF Bikers
• Daredevil Show by Yashaswini
• Women Pipe Band of BSF
• Choreography Program by Gujarat Mahila Police
• Special NCC Show
• School Band Display
• G20 Summit tableau
• Chandrayaan Project tableau
• Surya Kiran Aerobatics Team flypast
• Marchpast by police forces from Assam, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Himachal Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, and Gujarat
• Tableau showcasing the economic prosperity of vibrant border villages and the diverse culture of different states of the country

The parade was a grand spectacle of India's diversity and unity. The disciplined performance of the ITBP, CISF, CRPF, and BSF was particularly impressive. The soldiers of the Gujarat-Delhi-Punjab Regiment played the brave and melodious tunes of the police band.

The unity parade is a tradition that has been held on the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel for the last six years in Ekta Nagar, Narmada district. The parade is a reminder of Patel's vision for a united India and his contribution to the country's independence.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit the Statue of Unity in Ekta Nagar on October 31, the birth anniversary of Sardar Patel, to pay tribute to him and attend the National Unity Day function. He will also inaugurate a number of new projects, including a visitor center, walkway, sub-district hospital, Kamalam Park, and Sahakar Bhavan.

Visitor Center

A visitor center will be constructed at a cost of about Rs 100 crore to provide information and directions to tourists, as well as shops, food courts, restaurants, and rest and entertainment places.

Walkway

A 150-meter walkway with 2 frisking booths has been constructed at a cost of Rs 7.5 crore to improve the convenience of tourists. The capacity of this frisking booth is three times more than the old frisking booth.

Sub-District Hospital

A sub-district hospital with a capacity of 50 beds and the facility of a trauma center will be built at a cost of Rs 81 crore to provide better healthcare facilities to the residents and tourists of Ekta Nagar.

Kamalam Park

Kamalam Park, built at a cost of Rs 7.5 crore, is a nursery of dragon fruit, known as 'Kamalam' in India, with a digital orientation center to educate visitors and farmers about the benefits of this fruit and its cultivation methods. 91,000 lotus saplings have also been kept here for distribution to the people.

Sahakar Bhavan

The Gujarat State Co-operative Bank Ltd. built Sahakar Bhavan at an expenditure of Rs 81 crore. This building has a guest house with accommodation for a total of 360 persons, an auditorium with seating capacity of about 300 persons, and a conference room with a capacity of 35 persons with video conferencing facility.

Ekta Skill Development Center

Ekta Skill Development Center has been established by GMR Varalakshmi Foundation to train people in various courses, including E-Auto Driver, Light Motor Vehicle Driver, Housekeeping and Room Attendant, Assistant Electrician, Front Office Associate, Computer/Data Entry Operator, Assistant Beauty Therapist, Food and Beverages Steward, Mason Mason, and Tourist Guide.

These new projects will further boost the tourism and development of Ekta Nagar.

Ahmedabad - Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to mark National Unity Day on October 31 by participating in the Unity Day celebrations near the iconic Statue of Unity in Kevadiya, Gujarat. The event commemorates the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, and Prime Minister Modi will play a prominent role in the festivities.

The Prime Minister's visit to Gujarat spans two days, commencing on October 30 when he is scheduled to arrive at Ahmedabad Airport at 9:30 am. From there, he will make his way to the revered Shaktipeeth Ambaji temple in the Banaskantha district at 10:20 am to offer prayers. At noon, he will partake in a program organized in Kheralu, Mehsana district, where he will perform Bhoomi Pujan and inaugurate developmental projects valued at Rs 4,778 crore.

Following this, at 2:00 pm, Prime Minister Modi will head to Gandhinagar to spend the night at Raj Bhavan. On October 31, he will commence his journey to Kevadiya from Gandhinagar at 6:35 am. In Kevadiya, he will participate in the unity parade, taking place from 8:00 am to 12:30 pm, before departing for New Delhi at 1:00 pm from Vadodara.

The Unity Day celebrations hold special significance as they pay tribute to the legacy of Sardar Patel, the "Iron Man of India," and reaffirm the importance of national unity.

Ahmedabad (Gujarat) [India], August 18: Union Minister for Port, Shipping and Waterways Shri Sarbananda Sonowal to chair the 19th meeting of the Maritime State Development Council (MSDC) scheduled on 18th and 19th August at Kevadia in Gujarat. During this, discussions will be focused on significant issues pertaining to the overall progress of the maritime sector. The meeting will be attended by the Chief Ministers, concerned Senior Ministers of the Coastal States and Administrators of UTs. The concerned Secretaries and Senior officials of all the 9 Coastal States and 4 UTs will also present their along with Senior Officials from various Ministries and Departments of the Union Government.

Maritime State Development Council (MSDC) was constituted in the year 1997 and is an apex advisory body for the development of the maritime sector aimed to ensure the development of Major and Non- Major ports in consultation with State governments. MSDC was constituted under the Chairmanship of the Hon’ble Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways with the Ministers in charge of all Maritime States ports, Administrators of UTs, Navy, Coast Guard, and representatives from all relevant stakeholders. 

MSDC is an apex advisory body for the development of the Maritime sector and aims to ensure the integrated development of Major and non-Major Ports. It was constituted to assess, in consultation with State Governments, the future development of existing and new Minor Ports by the respective Maritime States either directly or through captive users and private participation. Further, MSDC also monitors the development of minor ports, captive ports and private ports in the Maritime States with a view to ensure their integrated development with Major Ports and to assess the requirements of other infrastructure requirements like roads/rail/IWT and making suitable recommendations to the concerned Ministers.

The Council, in this meeting, will discuss the various development agendas related to the implementation of SagarmalaProgramme; Development of National Maritime Heritage Complex (NMHC), Lothal, Gujarat; Development of National Waterways; Challenges and opportunities for promotion of RoPax/ Ferries; Urban Passenger Waterways Transportation; Road & Rail port connectivity; Success stories of Coastal States & UTs and Issues/ Challenges faced by State Maritime Boards.

A coordination meeting on the Global Maritime India Summit 2023 (GMIS 2023) & Maritime Excellence Achievers will also be held with senior officials of all Coastal States & UTs to discuss their planning for participation in the Global Maritime India Summit, 2023which is scheduled to be held at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi from 17th-19th October 2023.

GMIS 2023 is a premier maritime sector-focused event to bring together pivotal figures from the industry to explore opportunities, understand challenges, and stimulate investment within India’s maritime sector. Building upon the legacy of its preceding editions of 2016 and 2021, this third edition of the summit aims to unveil broader prospects for domestic and international maritime stakeholders and investors. More than 100 countries and a number of delegates from them are expected to participate in the Summit with exhibitors and investors from various domains of the maritime sector.

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Kevadia (Gujarat), July 9 (IANS) The third meeting of the Trade and Investment Working Group (TIWG) is scheduled to take place in Kevadia, Gujarat from July 10 to 12 .

The meeting will be held at the site of the imposing Statue of Unity and is set to be attended by more than 75 delegates from G20 member countries, invitee nations, regional assemblies, and international organisations.

The focus of the three-day meeting is to build consensus on action-oriented proposals put forward by the Indian Presidency. These proposals address issues related to global trade and investment, a topic that was extensively deliberated upon during the first two TIWG meetings.

Five priority issues have been highlighted for the meetings, including Trade for Growth & Prosperity, Resilient Trade and Global Value Chains (GVCs), Integrating MSMEs in World Trade, Logistics for Trade, and World Trade Organization (WTO) Reforms.

The Indian Presidency has formulated concrete, action-oriented proposals based on the opinions and suggestions made by the G20 member and invitee countries during previous discussions. 

These proposals aim to develop a holistic approach to trade and investment challenges, focusing on digitalising trade documents, creating an information interface for MSMEs, generating a generic mapping framework for GVCs, fostering regulatory dialogue, and compiling best practices for Mutual Recognition Agreements (MRAs).

The upcoming meeting will include technical sessions on July 11 and July 12, during which specific inputs and comments from the G20 members and invitee countries will be solicited. The feedback will be incorporated into a Ministerial Communique, set to be adopted at the G20 Trade and Investment Ministerial Meeting in Jaipur from August 24 to August 25, 2023.