![Union Minister for Defence, Rajnath Singh administering the ‘Rashtriya Ekta Diwas Pledge’ to military and civilian officials of the Ministry of Defence, on the occasion of 144th birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, in New Delhi on Thursday. Union Minister for Defence, Rajnath Singh administering the ‘Rashtriya Ekta Diwas Pledge’ to military and civilian officials of the Ministry of Defence, on the occasion of 144th birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, in New Delhi on Thursday.](https://cdndailyexcelsior.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/page7-6.jpg)
NEW DELHI, Oct 31:
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday administered ‘Rashtriya Ekta Diwas Pledge’ to the senior military and civilian officials of Ministry of Defence here on the occasion of 144th birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. Remembering the architect of united modern India, Mr Singh, along with the officials, took a vow to preserve the ‘Unity, Integrity and Security of the Nation’, the Ministry of Defence said. As first Home Minister of Independent India, Sardar Patel played a key role in integrating more than 560 princely states in the Union of India. The Government had decided in 2014 to observe the day as ‘Rashtriya Ekta Diwas’ or ‘National Unity Day’. The minister also paid rich tribute on this occasion to former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi as today is her death anniversary. Chief of the Army Staff General Bipin Rawat, Defence Secretary Ajay Kumar, Secretary (Ex-servicemen Welfare) Sanjeevanee Kutty, Secretary (Defence Finance) Ms Gargi Kaul, Vice Chief of the Naval Staff Vice Admiral G Ashok Kumar and other senior civil and military officials also took part in the pledge. (UNI)