People from all walks of life ran for unity here on Monday to spread opposition leader Narendra Modi's message of national unity.
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and senior BJP leader Sushma Swaraj, flagged off the event
The event was organised in a bid to collect scrap iron to build Sardar Patel's 182-metre statue, tipped to be the world's tallest, in the middle of Narmada River in the province, scheduled to be completed before January 26, 2014.
During the flag off event, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said that the programme was organised to unite people in the country.
"This is a unique programme to unite the country 'Daudega Bharat Judega Bharat' and I congratulate Sri Narendra Bhai Modi for this programme," said Chouhan.
Chouhan also thanked Modi for the immense effort he had put in to organise the run.
Earlier, similar runs have been witnessed in various Indian states and top BJP leaders and supporters from all over India had participated in the run.
"They are establishing the statue of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and they have spread a message among the youth to come out and run for unity and in this way they will all become one and united," said a volunteer, Kumar.
According to a post by Modi on his website, this marathon would be the largest mass run of its kind in the world.
Mumbai and Pune, New Delhi, Bangalore, Kolkata, Ahmedabad and Lucknow and Chandigarh were among the major cities which hosted the event.
