CHENNAI – 1 Nov, 2026 Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW), Sarbananda Sonowal administered the National Unity Pledge to officers, employees and maritime cadets at his official residence here today, marking National Unity Day, or Rashtriya Ekta Diwas, observed each year on the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.
Participants took the pledge, affirming, "I will dedicate myself to maintaining the unity, integrity and security of the nation and will also make every possible effort to spread this message among my fellow countrymen. I take this pledge in the spirit of the unity of my country, which became possible through the foresight and actions of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. I also solemnly resolve to contribute with sincerity to ensure the internal security of my country."
Sonowal paid floral tribute to Patel, India's first deputy prime minister and home minister, widely remembered as the "Iron Man of India" for uniting more than 560 princely states into a single nation after independence.