Narendra Modi's 'Saffron' run for unity has its notes on huge success.

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Modi and BJP ramp up election race with ‘Run for Unity’

Series of events to drum up support for Sardar Patel statue in Gujarat

Darshan Desai | The Hindu | Vadodara | Dec 16, 2013:: Seeking by all accounts to boost his prospects in the next general elections, Narendra Modi on Sunday launched a ‘Run for Unity’ here in central Gujarat, even as the Bharatiya Janata Party simultaneously sought to replicate it in hundreds of other venues across the country.

In doing so, the BJP’s prime ministerial candidate gave a new dimension to his efforts to link the legacy of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel to his own campaign in the run-up to 2014.

The run is aimed to drum up support for the Gujarat Chief Minister’s mega-project for the Statue of Unity, a monument of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel billed as the largest statue in the world, to come up at Sadhubet near the Sardar Sarovar Dam. The run marked the 63rd death anniversary of Sardar Patel. 

 According to State government sources, more than 40 lakh people participated in events at 1,100 places across India.

Flagging off the run here, Mr. Modi claimed India would come up as a superpower on the strong pillars of unity, good governance and people’s participation. “This is not a mere run; it is a public movement that certainly would lead India to reach the destination of a superpower,” he said.

The Chief Minister, who has been talking of inclusive development and been reaching out to the minority communities, on Sunday said India’s diversity is not its weakness but its distinguishing characteristic.

“Our diversity is not something that exists only on paper but it is our unique identity and a source of our tremendous strength,” Mr. Modi said. “It is the responsibility of our present and future generations strengthening India’s unity in her diversity.  Run for Unity is a drive towards patriotism and that it should not be seen as a part of politics,” he added.

Following the path of Sardar Patel’s message of unity, Gujarat had emerged as a model of development and like the State, India could also be a super power by uniting people, said Mr. Modi.

“This run is being organised with a determination to unite the people, unite the villages and unite the nation,” Mr. Modi said, claiming it was all about “patriotism”.

In Delhi, Ahmedabad

BJP president Rajnath Singh and Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley flagged off the ‘Run for Unity’ from the party headquarters in Delhi. Senior party leader L.K. Advani participated in the programme in Ahmedabad. [Courtesy: The Hindu]. 

'Saffron' run for unity

Jaideep Deogharia | TNN | Ranchi/Jamshedpur |Dec 16, 2013:: In the run up to 2014 general elections, BJP managed to gather a huge crowd to support 'Run for Unity' on the occasion of Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel's death anniversary on Sunday. In Jharkhand, hundreds of BJP supporters and public came together at 33 different points including all 24 district headquarters under the leadership of local BJP leaders and demonstrated their commitment towards the nation.

Member of national executive committee of the party for collection of iron tools, which will be used in constructing Patel's statue, Saryu Rai told journalists that the process of collecting iron tools would begin all over the country with Sunday's 'Run for Unity'. "Jharkhand is all set to collect maximum iron which will be used to build the world's tallest statue because the state is not just agrarian but has also showed its commitment towards nation building time and again," he said.

The run in Ranchi was flagged off by Rai along with former CM Arjun Munda, BJP state president Ravindra Rai and former Ranchi MP Ram Tahal Choudhary. Around 500 people including students, members of non-governmental organizations, professionals and party workers joined the run that started from Sainik Market and concluded at Albert Ekka Chowk on the Main Road covering a distance of 1km.

Addressing the gathering, Munda said India comprises people from different religions, castes and languages but when it comes to the nation's unity and integrity all are ready to stand in the same queue. "Run for Unity despite being anchored by BJP was aimed at showing the strength of unity to the world," he said explaining that the statue of unity would symbolize India's emergence as a global power.

Read the rest here. Courtesy: TOI.

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Statue of Unity. No Political Motive. Only to strengthen National Integrity on Patel's Philosophy: Narendra Modi.

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No political motive behind statue of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel: Narendra Modi

PTI | Vadodara | Dec 12, 2013:: The 182-metre-tall "Statue of Unity" is coming up on an island on Narmada river at an estimated cost of Rs 2,074 crore. Modi had laid the foundation stone for the project in October and is garnering support from other states.

Ruling out any "political motive" behind construction of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel's statue, a senior BJP minister today said Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi wanted the project to serve as the "source of inspiration for all".

A 14-member BJP delegation, led by Agriculture Minister Babubhai Bokhiria, last night handed over a letter written by Modi on the upcoming "statue of unity" project to Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy in Thiruvananthapuram.

"We apprised Chandy about this project. We clarified to him that there is no political motive behind building the statue of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel," Bokhiria said.

"Chandy showed keen interest in the project. We have also extended an invitation to him to visit Gujarat," he said.

The 182-metre-tall "Statue of Unity" is coming up on an island on Narmada river at an estimated cost of Rs 2,074 crore. Modi had laid the foundation stone for the project in October and is garnering support from other states.

"We embark on a sincere attempt to do justice to this great visionary and his epochal contribution to the Indian nation," Modi said in his letter to his Kerala counterpart.

"The statue will stand high not just in meters and feet but much more in terms of academic, historical, national and spiritual values...My vision is to develop the place as a source of inspiration for ages to come," Modi said.

The delegation is in Kerala for doing the ground work for the 'run for unity' organised by BJP on December 15.

The 'run for unity', being organised across 565 districts in the country, will not only mark the death anniversary of independent India's first home minister but also launch preparations for construction of his statue which will be tallest in world.

Read the rest here. Courtesy: DNA.

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Run for Unity: Modi will inaugurate the largest Marathon in India.

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RUN FOR UNITY. INDIA'S LARGEST MARATHON FOR EVER.
UNITING THE NATION AT THE STATUE OF UNITY UNDER THE FEET OF IRON MAN OF INDIA. A SALUTATION TO SARDAR PATEL FOR A SHAKTIMAN (POWERFUL) BHARAT. 

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Vadodara: Narendra Modi to inaugurate 'Run for Unity' marathon on December 15

PTI | Vadodara | Dec 11-12, 2013:: The "Run For Unity" marathon will be inaugurated by Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) prime ministerial candidate and Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi on December 15 in Vadodara.

"It will be a unique event and we expect more than 1.85 lakh people to participate in the marathon. This will be a record in itself," Vadodara District Collector Vinod Rao who is the organiser of the event told reporters today.

All arrangements have been made at the huge Navlakhi compound located in the middle of the city for parking 20,000 vehicles and 5 000 two wheelers, he said.

Youth and others have responded positively to the appeal made by Mr Modi to pay tribute to Sardar Patel on his 63rd death anniversary on Sunday, December 15, he said.

Mr Modi's effort to start a movement to collect iron for the Statue of Unity will be launched along with the event and it is scheduled to be completed before January 26, 2014, which is Republic Day.

Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Lucknow, Chandigarh and Pune are the major cities gearing up for the event on Sunday.

Courtesy: NDTV.

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Modi's Statue of Unity project is gaining supports from everywhere. Now Assam CM supports.

Tarun Gogoi supports Modi's Statue of Unity project

GUWAHATI | TNN | Dec 7, 2013:: On Friday, chief minister Tarun Gogoi extended the state government's full support to his Gujarat counterpart's ambitious Statue of Unity project when Modi's emissaries met him on Thursday night. The project is aimed at honouring Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, the country's first home minister.

Gogoi also had a message for BJP's prime ministerial candidate. "The CM pointed out that Sardar Patel not only belonged to Gujarat but to the entire country," the chief minister's office said on Friday.

The 17-member delegation from the Gujarat government, led by the state minister for social justice, sports, youth and cultural affairs, Ramanlal Vora, is touring the northeast to mobilize the region's support for the statue, to be built near the Sardar Sarovar dam on the Narmada.

"The delegation, comprising Vora, MPs, MLAs and other officials, apprised Gogoi about the project to erect a giant statue of Sardar Patel, measuring182 metres (597 ft), on the Narmada's bank," the chief minister's office added.

Vora told Gogoi it was appropriate to collect iron from all over the country as Patel was known as the 'Loha Purush' ( Iron Man) of India, on account of his mental strength, and for successfully instilling a feeling of unity and integrity among the people. He said that the Gujarat government's campaign is a great unifier. The delegation also handed Gogoi a letter of appeal personally signed by Modi.

The delegation will be heading for Meghalaya and Nagaland next. [Courtesy: TOI].

Related: Gujarat delegation meet Tarun Gogoi to seek support for statue: reading courtesy, ET.