‘Sardar @150’ campaign launched

The Delhi Government has launched the ‘Sardar @150’ campaign to mark the 150th birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, celebrating ‘Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat’ and promoting national unity.

Addressing mediapersons, Minister Ashish Sood said under the guidance of PM Modi and CM Rekha Gupta, Delhi is set to organise a series of programmes including unity marches, cultural events and the National Unity Water Yatra.

He said a key highlight of the campaign is the water yatra, in which 150 students from 15 educational districts would collect water from the Yamuna and carry it to 25 major rivers across India, including the Jhelum in Jammu & Kashmir and the Musi River in Hyderabad. In return, sacred water from these rivers will be brought back to Delhi and offered at the Sardar Patel statue at Patel Chowk.

On October 31, CM Rekha Gupta would perform Jalabhishek at the Sardar Patel statue using the collected water. The campaign would also include state-level Ekta Padyatras (Unity Marches) across Delhi’s 11 revenue districts, where thousands of students, teachers and volunteers from NSS, NCC and My Bharat would participate.

From November 1 to 25, ten districts would each host a 15-km march, collectively forming a 150-km-long campaign. The marches would be led by Delhi’s MPs, ministers, MLAs and Padma awardees.

Sood announced a grand cultural event and projection mapping show on November 1 at the Red Fort, showcasing India’s diverse culture, cuisine and achievements. In collaboration with My Bharat, a poster-making competition would select 150 students for a study tour to the Statue of Unity in Gujarat, while the 15 best posters would be presented to the Prime Minister and the Home Minister.

He added, “The Sardar @150 campaign is not only a tribute to India’s great unifier, Sardar Patel, but also a clarion call for the youth of India to embrace self-reliance, integrity and national unity.”