SRINAGAR: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Saturday flagged off the ‘Run for Unity’ from the Sher-i-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC) in Srinagar to mark Rashtriya Ekta Diwas, observed annually on October 31 to commemorate the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.
The event witnessed participation by students, youth, government officials and representatives of various institutions, with the objective of promoting national unity, integrity and the spirit of ‘Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat’.
Participants also took the Rashtriya Ekta Diwas pledge, reaffirming their commitment to safeguarding the country’s unity, integrity and security.
The run started from SKICC and is scheduled to culminate at the Botanical Garden in Srinagar.
Similar events were organised across Jammu and Kashmir to mark the occasion.
In Jammu, the Jammu Hills Sports Club Foundation, in association with the 8 J&K Girls Battalion NCC and Indian Oil, organised a Run for Unity at MA Stadium.
In Anantnag, the district police organised a run from District Police Lines to Wazir Bagh, featuring a special race for differently-abled participants. An awards ceremony was subsequently held at the Sports Stadium.
In Awantipora, a run was scheduled from Government Polytechnic College to the Mini Secretariat, while Reasi and Kathua witnessed local five-kilometre unity runs organised by the police and Nehru Yuva Kendra, respectively.
In Baramulla, the Jammu and Kashmir Police and district administration organised a community run from St Joseph’s School to Azad Ganj Chowk.
Rashtriya Ekta Diwas is observed every year on October 31 in recognition of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s contribution to national integration.
