Statue of Unity inauguration Highlights: PM Narendra Modi unveils Wall of Unity

Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled the Statue of Unity in Gujarat’s Narmada district. The 182-metre statue of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel is touted to be the world’s tallest. Built on Sadhu Bet, an islet near the Sardar Sarovar Dam, the statue will dwarf the current tallest statue, the Spring Temple Buddha in China (128m), and is almost double the height of the Statue of Liberty in New York.The PM arrived in Ahmedabad on Tuesday night ahead of the unveiling of the statue on the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and headed to Raj Bhavan in Gandhinagar for night stay. Here are the updates:

12:31 pm IST

PM Modi signs visitors book at ‘Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat Complex’

Prime Minister Narendra Modi looking at the State of Unity at the distance on October 31 in Gujarat.(PMO India)

Kevadiya (Gujarat): Prime Minister Narendra Modi signs visitors book at 'Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat Complex' near #StatueOfUnity pic.twitter.com/iusRnhpsRh

— ANI (@ANI) October 31, 2018

12:19 pm IST

PM Modi visits museum, audio-visual gallery

Kevadiya: PM Narendra Modi, BJP Chief Amit Shah, Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani and others visit museum & audio-visual gallery at 'Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat Complex' near #StatueOfUnity pic.twitter.com/HCWc2CrQ8z

— ANI (@ANI) October 31, 2018

11:45 am IST

PM Modi inaugurates Wall of Unity

Kevadiya: Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurates Wall of Unity on 143rd anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. #Gujarat pic.twitter.com/yW1hA95uqz

— ANI (@ANI) October 31, 2018

11:23 am IST

Responsibility to strongly respond to any attempt to divide country: Modi

It is our responsibility to strongly respond to any kind of attempt to divide the country. We should always be alert and be united as a society: PM Modi

11:18 am IST

Some people look at our campaign through political lenses, PM Modi

I am surprised when some people in this country look at our campaign through political lenses. We are criticised when we praise someone like Sardar Patel and this other great men of the country. We are made to feel that we have committed a grave crime: PM Modi

कई बार तो मैं हैरान रह जाता हूं, जब देश में ही कुछ लोग हमारी इस मुहिम को राजनीति से जोड़कर देखते हैं। सरदार पटेल जैसे महापुरुषों, देश के सपूतों की प्रशंसा करने के लिए भी हमारी आलोचना होने लगती है। ऐसा अनुभव कराया जाता है मानो हमने बहुत बड़ा अपराध कर दिया है : पीएम #StatueOfUnity pic.twitter.com/M4sLhtnAuR

— BJP (@BJP4India) October 31, 2018

11:04 am IST

Statue reflects India’s engineering, technical capabilities: PM

Statue of Unity हमारे इंजीनियरिंग और तकनीकि सामर्थ्य का भी प्रतीक है। बीते करीब साढ़े तीन वर्षों में हर रोज़ कामगारों ने, शिल्पकारों ने मिशन मोड पर काम किया है।

राम सुतार जी की अगुवाई में देश के अद्भुत शिल्पकारों की टीम ने कला के इस गौरवशाली स्मारक को पूरा किया है: PM

— PMO India (@PMOIndia) October 31, 2018

11:00 am IST

India stands united because of Sardar Patel’s contribution: PM

कच्छ से कोहिमा तक, करगिल से कन्याकुमारी तक आज अगर बेरोकटोक हम जा पा रहे हैं तो ये सरदार साहब की वजह से, उनके संकल्प से ही संभव हो पाया है: PM @narendramodi #StatueOfUnity

— PMO India (@PMOIndia) October 31, 2018

सरदार साहब ने संकल्प न लिया होता, तो आज गीर के शेर को देखने के लिए, सोमनाथ में पूजा करने के लिए और हैदराबाद चार मीनार को देखने के लिए हमें वीज़ा लेना पड़ता।

सरदार साहब का संकल्प न होता, तो कश्मीर से कन्याकुमारी तक की सीधी ट्रेन की कल्पना भी नहीं की जा सकती थी: PM @narendramodi

— PMO India (@PMOIndia) October 31, 2018

10:55 am IST

Thought about this project when I was Gujarat CM: PM Modi

This is a project that we had thought about during the time when I was the chief minister of Gujarat. To build the Statue Of Unity, lakhs of farmers from all over India came together, gave their tools, portions of soil and thus, a mass movement started: PM Modi

10:50 am IST

Fortunate to dedicate this statue to the nation: PM Modi

Events like today are very, very important in a country’s history and such events are difficult to erase. It is a historic and inspiring occasion for all Indians. I am fortunate to dedicate this statue of Sardar Sahab to the nation: PM Modi

10:45 am IST

Historic event for all Indians, says PM Modi

Historic event for all Indians, says PM Modi after unveiling Statue of Unity in Gujarat.

This is a project that we had thought about during the time I was the Chief Minister of Gujarat, says PM Modi

10:39 am IST

‘Long live Sardar Patel,’ chants PM Modi

Prime Minster Narendra Modi leads chants of ‘Long live Sardar Patel’ and asks crowd to join.

10:30 am IST

PM Modi unveils Statue of Unity

PM Narendra Modi leads jalabhishek as he unveils Statue of Unity.

#WATCH: Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel's #StatueOfUnity inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Gujarat's Kevadiya pic.twitter.com/APnxyFACFT

— ANI (@ANI) October 31, 2018

10:28 am IST

Gujarat CM presents PM Modi the first farm tool Gujarat received in ‘Loha Campaign’

Gujarat chief minister Vijay Rupani presents to Prime Minister Narendra Modi the very first farm tool that the state had received in ‘Loha’ campaign.

10:15 am IST

PM Modi arrives at the venue

PM Narendra Modi arrives at the venue with BJP president Amit Shah, chief minister Vijay Rupani and governors of Gujarat, Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh.

10:06 am IST

Sadar Patel’s kin from US, Mumbai at the venue

“37 members of our family from US, Mumbai, Karamsad, Ahmedabad and Vallabh Vidhyanagar have come”, says Sardar Patel’s grand nephew, Dhirubhai Patel.

10:04 am IST

Once in a lifetime moment, says Sardar Patel’s grand nephew

“This is once in a lifetime moment for me. The government has done excellent work,” says Dhirubhai Patel, grand nephew of Sardar Patel.

9:59 am IST

Artist from Odisha makes miniature model of Statue of Unity

Odisha: L Eswar Rao, a miniature artist from Bhubaneswar's Jatni, made a miniature model of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel's #StatueOfUnity; said it took him three days to make it. #RashtriyaEktaDiwas pic.twitter.com/l7wI90QAPb

— ANI (@ANI) October 31, 2018

9:53 am IST

Family of Sardar Patel present at the venue

37 members of Sardar Patel’s family present at the ceremony.

9:47 am IST

Jalabhishek with waters of 30 major rivers to take place

Jalabhishek with waters of 30 major rivers to soon mark the unveiling of Statue of Unity.

9:38 am IST

Fly-past by IAF to mark unveiling

Fly-past by Indian Air Force to take place during inauguration of the world’s tallest statue.

9:30 am IST

Celebrations underway near Statue of Unity

9:10 am IST

PM Modi reaches Kevadiya

PM Modi has arrived in Kevadiya and inaugurated the Valley of Flowers along the banks of river Narmada.

8:55am IST

Sardar Patel worked hard to make India one: Nirmala Sitharaman

Union defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman was present at the Run For Unity event at Chennai. Commenting on Sardar Patel’s contribution, she said, “Post our freedom movement, Sardar Patel worked hard to get more than 550 princely states together to make India one. It’s only right that we remember him today”.

8:50am IST

Scenes of celebration from near the Statue of Unity

Celebrations have begun near the inauguration site ahead of the unveiling of Statue of Unity by PM Modi.

8:45am IST

PM Modi reaches Kevadiya ahead of unveiling of Statue of Unity

Prime Minister Narendra Modi reaches Kevadiya in Gujarat where he will inaugurate the Statue of Unity, a statue of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.

8:40am IST

Visuals from the site where the Statue of Unity will be inaugurated

Gujarat: #Visuals from near Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel's #StatueOfUnity that will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi today. pic.twitter.com/eq2SOZgaCH

— ANI (@ANI) October 31, 2018

8:35am IST

‘Run for Unity’ event flagged off in Guwahati

Union health minister JP Nadda and Assam chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal flag off the Run for Unity event in Guwahati.

Assam: Union Health Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda and Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal flag off #RunForUnity in Guwahati. #RashtriyaEktaDiwas pic.twitter.com/FUfql8XYek

— ANI (@ANI) October 31, 2018

8:20am IST

India has today paid tribute to man who built India: Sports minister Rathore

Sports minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore , present at the Run for Unity event in New Delhi, said that Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s statue should have been made years ago. India has today paid tribute to a man who built India.

8:15am IST

It’s a day of extreme significance, says gymnast Dipa Karmakar

“ I participated in Run For Unity last year as well. It’s a day of extreme significance & I will try my best to witness it the inauguration” Gymnast Dipa Karmakar at “Run for Unity” in Delhi.

8:10am IST

Run for Unity flagged off in Delhi by home minister & sports minister

Home Minister Rajnath Singh and sports minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore flagged off “Run for Unity” in Delhi on 143rd birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. Gymnast Dipa Karmakar was among a host of sportsperson present for the Run of Unity event.

8:00am IST

Bow to the great Sardar Patel, the stalwart who unified India: PM Modi

Ahead of unveiling the Statue of Unity, Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid homage to India’s first home minister in a tweet.

देश को एकता के सूत्र में पिरोने वाले लौह पुरुष सरदार वल्लभभाई पटेल को उनकी जयंती पर कोटि-कोटि नमन।

We bow to the great Sardar Patel, the stalwart who unified India and served the nation tirelessly, on his Jayanti.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 31, 2018