 "narendra modi")
Prime Minister Narendra Modi Sunday credited Sardar Valabhbhai Patel with uniting India after partition and said it was his timely intervention which helped saved Jammu and Kashmir from "aggression".
In his monthly 'Mann ki Baat' radio address, he also urged the youth to participate in large numbers in the 'run for unity' being organised on October 31 to mark the birth anniversary of Patel.
Modi said, "If we are able to see a united India now, it was entirely on account of the sagacity and strategic wisdom of Sardar Patel."
He said this year, October 31 (scheduled date for inauguration of the statue) will be special as the statue of unity will be dedicated to the nation as a "true tribute" to Sardar Patel.
"This is the world's tallest statue. Every Indian will now be proud to see the world's tallest statue here on Indian soil. Sardar Patel, a true son of the soil will adorn our skies too," he said.
In his address, the Prime Minister also paid tributes to late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on her death anniversary, which is also on October 31.
"October 31 also is the death anniversary of our former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. Our respectful tributes to Indira ji too," he said.
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The Prime Minister pointed out that Infantry Day is observed every year on October 27 as the first Indian soldiers had set their foot in Jammu and Kashmir to take on intruders from Pakistan.
Quoting late Field Marshal S H F J Manekshaw, he said Patel was "irked" at the delay in initiating military action to evict the aggressors.
He said, in an interview, Manekshaw had recalled that as a colonel then he was part of a meeting where Patel was irked on the delay in sending troops to Kashmir.
"During the proceedings, Sardar Patel gave him (Manekshaw) a characteristic glance and reiterated that there should be no delay in our Army operation and that a solution should be sought swiftly. And immediately after that, our troops flew to Kashmir.we've seen how our Army was successful," Modi said.
Mahatma Gandhi, the PM said, considered Patel as the only one capable of finding a lasting solution to the vexed issue of the states and asked him to act.
During his address, Modi also lauded the performances of Indian sportspersons in the Asian Para Games and Summer Youth Olympics, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said the country was setting new records not just in the field of sports but also in "uncharted areas".
"If the youth of a country possess these qualities, that country will progress not only in areas such as economy, science and technology but also bring laurels home in the field of sports," Modi said.
He congratulated the athletes who participated in the Asian Para Games 2018 held at Jakarta and the winners of the Summer youth Olympics 2018 held in Argentina, saying: "The Para athletes bagged a tally of 72 medals, creating a new, unprecedented record, bringing glory to the nation".
PM also talked about the 100 years of the end of World War-1 on November 11. He remembered the sacrifices of Indian soldiers who fought in the war.
