We have to give a definition to our democracy by living a life that pays tribute to the sacrifices made by the innumerable freedom fighters who won us Independence,” Union Minister of Civil Aviation P. Ashok Gajapathi Raju said before flagging off the Ekta Run here on Friday.
The youth should look at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel as a role model, he said, and recalled the dedication and commitment to work of Independent India’s first Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister, who was responsible for the integration of princely states into the Indian Union. A successful advocate, Sardar Patel gave up a lucrative practice to serve the nation by joining the freedom struggle, he recalled, paying rich tributes to the Iron Man. It was time we remembered the contribution of persons like Sardar Patel to the freedom struggle.
“Unfortunately, we have a tendency to denigrate our leaders. There were efforts to downplay the role of leaders like Sardar Patel in our freedom struggle,” he said, and added that reality cannot be suppressed for long.
He administered Rashtriya Ekta Diwas Pledge to NCC cadets, NSS volunteers, and schoolchildren participating in the Ekta Run on the Beach Road.
“There is a lot we can learn from the life of Sardar Patel. The nation might have seen a different situation had he become the first Prime Minister,” Minister for HRD Ganta Srinivasa Rao said.
Visakhapatnam MP K. Haribabu paid rich tributes to Sardar Patel.
MLAs — P. Vishnukumar Raju and Palla Srinivas — Collector N. Yuvaraj, GVMC Commissioner M. Janaki, officials and non-officials were present.
