Union Minister for Defence Nirmala Sitharaman today gave a clarion call to all the youngsters to build a unified modern India.

Speaking to newspersons after inaugurating the run for unity program in Chennai, she blamed the Congress Party for sidelining the memoirs of a great personality like Sardar Patel.

She told that this was the first time that his birthday was celebrated all over the Country involving the youth. The Defence Minister said that Patel was a towering personality who was instrumental in bringing together all the princely states which was a magnificient task.

Union Minister of State Pon Radhakrishnan called Patel, the architect of modern India Speaking to newspersons at Kanyakumari after inaugurating the run for unity event he told that Patel had also worked for the betterment of the farmers through out the Country.

The run for unity event to celebrate Sardar Patel’s birthday was held in all the districts of the State by various groups and associations. In Capital Chennai, students gathered at the Island grounds this morning in spite of the rain and joined the run.

They also took the oath for unity administered by Minister Nirmala Sitaraman. State Ministers D.Jayakumar, S.P.Velumani, some members of Parliament and a lot of senior officials took part in the program. Ekta Divas pledge was also administered in all the Central Government offices today.