Karnal residents hold Unity March to honour Sardar Patel

Hundreds of residents of Karnal district on Sunday took out a Unity March, which began from Maharaja Agrasen Chowk and culminated at Karna Lake. Haryana Assembly Speaker Harvinder Kalyan flagged off the march and called for unity, while Union Minister for Power, Housing and Urban Affairs Manohar Lal Khattar addressed the gathering during the concluding ceremony.

Khattar administered two oaths to the youth — first, to promote the use of Swadeshi products and contribute to building a developed nation, and second, to create a drug-free India through collective effort to eradicate addiction from society.

Paying tribute to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Khattar recalled his pivotal role in uniting the country and laying the foundation of an integrated India. “The Iron Man of India united 562 princely states to form one strong nation. Patel’s firm resolve brought Junagadh and Hyderabad under the Indian Constitution,” he said. Referring to Jammu and Kashmir, he added that the abrogation of Article 370 by the Centre had fulfilled Patel’s vision of ‘One Nation, One Constitution’.

Khattar highlighted the Union Government’s efforts in curbing terrorism, Naxalism and communal violence, adding that the spirit of patriotism was rising in the North-Eastern states. He urged the youth to contribute to nation-building with honesty and discipline, to stay away from drugs, and to adopt Swadeshi products.

He said the country was rapidly progressing towards becoming the world’s third-largest economy. Recalling the Pokhran nuclear tests conducted under former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Khattar stated that India had faced international sanctions earlier and emerged stronger each time. “There is no need to fear; our population is our strength and we will utilise it wisely,” he added.

Earlier, Speaker Kalyan urged citizens to work collectively against social evils and contribute towards building a developed India.

Meanwhile, on the two Karnal residents reportedly held hostage by human traffickers in Iran, Khattar said, "Wherever they are, I hope they remain safe." He added that the Ministry of External Affairs was actively coordinating efforts to assist and rescue Indians stranded abroad. On Indians being deported by the US government, Khattar remarked, "If any foreign government decides to deport them back to India, there would be no objection from our side, as illegally migrating abroad is not justified. However, no Indian should be mistreated or harmed."