President Ram Nath Kovind, Union Home Minister Amit Shah among others on Thursday paid tributes to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on his 144th birth anniversary in the national capital here.
Kovind, Shah, Union cabinet minister Hardeep Singh Puri and Delhi Lt Governor Anil Baijal accompanied by senior Home Ministry officials, paid floral tributes at Patel's statue located at the Patel Chowk here.
Shah flagged off the 'Run for Unity' event in Delhi to mark the birth anniversary Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. The 'Run for Unity' was flagged off from Dhyan Chand National Stadium here.
For the special occasion, Delhi Metro services also began early at 4 am today in order to facilitate people participating in the 'Run for Unity' event.
Modi government has been observing Patel's birth anniversary as 'Ekta Diwas' or National Unity Day since 2014.
Later today, Prime Minister Modi will pay tribute to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel at the Statue of Unity in Gujarat's Kevadia.
Patel was born on October 31, 1875, at Nadiad in Gujarat.
India's first Home Minister, Patel is credited for the merger of over 560 states into the Union of India.
As part of celebrations, various programmes are being organised across the country, recalling Sardar Patel's contribution to the unification of India.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is attending a special function being organised in Kevadia in Gujarat, where a giant statue of Patel is located.
(PTI)
