Statue of Unity, at 182 metres, is the world’s tallest statue (Source: Twitter/PMO)

Dedicating the Statue of Unity to the nation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said the statue was not only a tribute to the valour and ability of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, but also an expression of New India’s confidence. Modi also said Patel had given every Indian the responsibility to defeat any attempt to divide the country in the name of caste and religion and stay united.

Built at a cost of Rs 2,989 crore, the statue is 182 m high, including the 25 m base. Said to be tallest in the world, the statue was also built in record time.

Remembering Patel’s efforts to unify the country after Independence, Modi said, “We had been carrying on this legacy of not providing a deserving place to a massive personality.”

Read | What is Statue of Unity?

Claiming that his government was taking forward Patel’s legacy of unifying the nation, he said, “Sabka saath, sabka vikas is our guiding principle. Sardar brought about political unification of the country by merger of princely states, while our government performed economic unification of the country through GST. We achieved the dream of One Nation, One Tax. We are constantly expanding Sardar’s pledge of uniting India. Whether it is the project of connecting all the agriculture produce markets of the country through e-NAM project…by introducing schemes like Bharatmala, Setu Bharatam, our government is striving to achieve Sardar’s dream of Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat.”

“This tallest statue of the world will remind the world and our future generations about the valour, ability and determination of a man who performed the pious duty of thwarting a conspiracy to divide Mother India,” he told the gathering of about 5,000 people.

Showering praise on Sardar Patel on his birth anniversary, Modi said, “After independence, pessimists felt that India will perish in its diversity…At that time, there was one ray of hope, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel…Sardar had the politics of Kautilya and valour of Shivaji Maharaj.”

Recalling the “sacrifice” of princely states who agreed to the merger of their kingdoms with the Union of India, Modi said, “The princely states had given an example of sacrifice and we should not forget it. I have a dream that there should be a virtual museum of more than 550 princely states who merged with India so that the future generations know about them.”

The foundation stone of the Statue of Unity was laid by Modi on October 31, 2013, when he was Gujarat Chief Minister. Modi said he never imagined that he will inaugurate the statue as Prime Minister. He recalled how farmers from across the country donated iron farm tools for the statue.

 At 182 meters, Statue of Unity is said to be the world’s tallest statue. (Express Photo By Bhupendra Rana)

According to Modi, his government had launched a campaign to give recognition to great leaders of India like Dr B R Ambedkar, Shyamji Krishna Verma, Subhas Chandra Bose and Govind Guru.

“Some people in the country see this as politics. They react as if we have committed a crime (by recognising these leaders).”

He said that the project will realise the dream of Sardar by bringing employment and tourism to the region. “Tourism activities would also change lives of locals here,” Modi said.

After the speech, the Prime Minister performed a puja near the feet of the statue, visited its exhibition hall and also went up to the viewing gallery of the statue at the height of 153 metres.

A team of Surya Kiran of Indian Air Force did aerobatics around the statue and spread colours of the Indian flag in the air. A team of IAF choppers showered rose petals on the statue whereas, a team of Jaguars from IAF did a fly past.

Modi spent about three hours at the site, also visiting the Valley of Flowers and the Tent City with Karnataka Governor Vajubhai Vala, Madhya Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel, Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel and several state cabinet ministers. Religious leaders and distant relatives of Sardar Patel were also present. At the Wall of Unity, BJP president Amit Shah was with the Prime Minister.