Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate world’s tallest statue of Sardar Vallabhai Patel Statue on 31 October, Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani announced on Sunday, 9 September.
The day also marks the 143rd birth anniversary of the first deputy Prime Minister of India.
“On 31 October 2018, statue of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi,” said Rupani while addresing the media after attending the National Executive Meet in New Delhi.
He further said that he invited everybody present at the meet for the ceremony in October.
Calling Patel one of the tallest leaders and pioneers of the country, Rupani said that the statue will be called ‘Statue of Unity’ and will be even taller than the Statue of Liberty.
“It’s not just a statue, it’s an emblem of the country’s unity and integrity,” said Rupani, adding that the statue was made using iron, water and soil from across the country.
The statue, which will be 182 meters tall, was announced by Modi in 2013 when he was the Chief Minister of Gujarat. It will be erected at 240 m from the river base of Narmada.
Rupani said that this was PM Modi’s attempt to bring Sardar Patel to the forefront, who was always sidelined by the Congress to ensure Jawaharlal Nehru's prominence.
(At The Quint, we question everything. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member today.)