Jaativaad, Kshetravaad, Bhashavaad weaken society's

immunity: Chief Minister

Those who regard Jinnah as ideal and seek to divide society

cannot be true followers of Vallabhbhai Patel: CM Yogi

No youth in Uttar Pradesh will remain unemployed; govt

systematically expanding skill development and employment progs: CM Yogi

Lucknow, Oct 31 (HS): Chief

Minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday launched a strong attack on forces seeking

to divide society on the birth anniversary of the Iron Man of India, Sardar

Vallabhbhai Patel. He said, 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. Those who regard Jinnah as an ideal and seek to divide society

cannot be true followers of Vallabhbhai Patel.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath attended a programme

organised to mark the 151st birth anniversary of Iron Man and Bharat Ratna

Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. He paid floral tributes at Sardar Patel's statue at

the GPO and administered the National Unity Day pledge to the people. The Chief

Minister added, The pledge reflects the very spirit and ideals for which

Sardar Patel dedicated his life. He described Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel as

the architect of the Republic of India, a freedom fighter and a prominent

nationalist leader.

The Chief Minister said, Following Prime Minister

Narendra Modi's call, October 31 has been observed continuously as National

Unity Day since 2014. The occasion features the National Unity pledge, the Run

for Unity and various constructive initiatives aimed at bringing society

together, inspired by the ideals of the Iron Man. This year marks the 151st

birth anniversary of Sardar Patel. Last year, on the completion of 150 years

since his birth, the double-engine government organised several programmes to

commemorate his legacy.

The Chief Minister said that, to keep the legacy of Iron Man

Sardar Patel alive, the government is also launching the process of

establishing an employment and industrial zone in every district. He added,

No youth in Uttar Pradesh will remain unemployed. The government is

systematically expanding programmes for skill development and employment to ensure

better opportunities for the state's youth.

CM Yogi said, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, a great son of

Mother India, was born in the small village of Karamsad (Nadiad) in Gujarat. To

keep the Iron Man's legacy alive, Prime Minister Narendra Modi facilitated the

installation of the world's tallest statue at Kevadia in Gujarat, on the banks

of the Narmada near the Sardar Sarovar Dam. The statue reflects the towering

personality and stature of Sardar Patel.

The Chief Minister said, Sardar 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. Sardar Patel warned the Nawab of Junagadh that if

he did not agree through dialogue, the government knew other ways to resolve

the matter. 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 Chief Minister said, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru had

retained the Kashmir issue under his own control. At the time, tribal invaders,

backed by Pakistan, attacked the region. A part of Kashmir continues to remain

under Pakistan's occupation. Hindus, Buddhists, Sikhs and Jains were massacred

there, and their population has now been reduced to almost negligible numbers.

Pandit Nehru subsequently implemented Article 370 in the part of Kashmir that

remained with India. Babasaheb Dr BR Ambedkar opposed the provision, but

Congress committed this grave mistake.

The Chief Minister said Prime Minister Narendra Modi and

Union Home Minister Amit Shah, the architects of 'Ek Bharat-Shreshtha Bharat',

have permanently abrogated Article 370 and integrated Kashmir with India on the

same footing as Uttar Pradesh and other states. There will no longer be two

sets of laws in India. The principle of Ek Desh mai Ek Pradhan, Ek Vidhan, Ek

Nishan will prevail. With Union Home Minister Amit Shah carrying out this task,

the dream of Vallabhbhai Patel, Shyama Prasad Mukherjee and other freedom

fighters has been fulfilled.

The Chief Minister alleged that attempts were being made to

pose challenges to national unity and undermine constitutional institutions by

placing them under scrutiny. He said, Everyone must collectively confront

these challenges.

CM Yogi also congratulated MLA Shashank Verma for organising

the programme and paid tribute to his father. He expressed confidence that

everyone would contribute towards strengthening the unity and spirit of 'Ek

Bharat-Shreshtha Bharat'.

Both Deputy Chief Ministers Keshav Prasad Maurya and Brajesh

Pathak, Cabinet Ministers Swatantra Dev Singh and Chaudhary Bhupendra Singh,

Sports Minister Girish Chandra Yadav, Ministers of State Baldev Singh Aulakh,

Manohar Lal 'Mannu Kori' and Kailash Rajput, Mayor Sushma Kharkwal, Rajya Sabha

MP Prakash Pal, MLAs Shashank Verma, Prabhat Verma and Rajendra Singh Patel,

BJP State Vice-President Neeraj Singh, Mahanagar President Anand Dwivedi and

other dignitaries were present on the occasion.

Hindusthan Samachar / Abhishek Awasthi