Narendra Modi flagged off a 'Run for Unity' marathon in Vadodara

Modi flagged off the event this morning: AP via FirstPost

Tamil Nadu BJP President Shri. Pon.Radha Krishnan

Narendra Modi led a marathon 'run for unity' organised by BJP today across the country to mark death anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, whose legacy he has sought to espouse in the campaign for 2014 general election. ..
"This run is being organised with a determination to unite the people, unite the villages and unite the nation," the BJP Prime Ministerial candidate said flagging of the event in Vadodara, adding, "This is an effort to fulfil the dreams and aspirations of all Indians. Please do not view it from prism of politics."   
Over 100 kilometres away in Ahmedabad, senior BJP leader L K Advani inaugurated the run, saying it was a true tribute to Patel on his 63rd death anniversary and praised the people for turning up in large numbers.

Both Modi and Advani, who fell out over the naming of the BJP Prime Ministerial candidate, have been praised as 'Iron man' by their party leaders and supporters. The title was originally used for Patel, India's first Home Minister.

Tamil Nadu State Secretary Smt.Vanathi Srinivasan

 BJP president Rajnath Singh and Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley flagged off the marathon from the party headquarters in New Delhi. City leaders also participated in the 2-5 km run.

 Party MP and spokesperson Prakash Javadekar took part in the marathon in Hyderabad while actor-turned-MP Smriti Irani led the race in West Bengal.

Irani said, "I think today in the country, we have over 50 lakh participants in the 'Run for Unity' and I am grateful to all those who participated because they are contributing towards the unity of India."

The participants wore T-shirts with a picture of Sardar Patel on it. The theme for the race was good governance and national integration. 565 places were chosen by BJP for the race as Patel had integrated this number of princely states into the Union of India at the time of Independence.

BJP is also reaching out to people to collect iron pieces for the ambitious 'Statue of Unity' that Modi wants to build in memory of Sardar Patel -- touted as the tallest structure in the world.


Advani today said that "the country is showing the respect towards the great man that should have always been there".

Referring to Gujarat, Modi said it has moved ahead due to "spirit of peace, unity and 'sad-bhavana'."

In Hydrabad

Paying rich tributes to Patel, Modi said, "Sardar Patel devoted his life to unify the nation. He integrated the common people in the freedom struggle and made efforts to rid the nation of the colonial mindset. He undid the mindset of divisiveness and united the nation.

"When we remember Gandhiji we remember truth, non-violence, sacrifice, simplicity, Satyagraha; when we remember Sardar Patel, we remember Ekta, Surajya and Kisan (unity, good governance and the farmer)," he said.

Describing India's diversity was its strength, the Gujarat Chief Minister added: "Our diversity is not something that is on paper. It is the manifestation of our strength. It is not only our identity but also our tradition."

"Good governance" was the need of the hour, said Modi in an apparent potshot at Congress-led UPA government.

Olympian Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore participated in Jaipur while BJP leader Vinay Katiyar led the event in Kanpur. Former India cricketer VVS Laxman was among those who participated in the event in Hyderbad.

In Patna, a galaxy of BJP leaders like former deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi and Rajya Sabha Deputy Leader of Opposition Ravishankar Prasad participated.

The run comprised 5 km, 15 km and 21 km distances.

Source: Outlookindia

 

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Run for Unity 15 Dec, 2013

 

15^th Dec, 2013: The day that marks the 63^rd Punyatithi (death anniversary) of Sardar Patel, sees history unfold again through the “Run for Unity.” This unprecedented event will witness more than 30 lakh people participating in a run in over 1100 locations across India. The historic run will unite the country in paying a fitting tribute to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, the Iron Man of India, who united 565 princely states to give India her present identity.

The Run for Unity will be the largest mass run/walk of its kind in the world. The previous world record was a participation of 1.2 lakh, however, the Run for Unity will beat this record more than twenty fold. Men and women, young and old, celebrities and civilians alike will wear a common unity scarf to mark their participation in this historic event. Participants will be free to run or walk over a 2km route.

The event will be flagged off from Vadodara by Shri Narendra Modi at 8:00 am. People all over the country will be able to witness this momentous inaugural event via live streaming on the Run for Unity website, http://www.runforunity.com. Similar runs will occur in hundreds of other locations across the length and breadth of the country, from Kargil to Kanyakumari, from Dwarka to Itanagar. The event was earlier planned for only 565 locations, symbolic of the 565 princely states that Sardar united. However, enthusiastic response from volunteers and participants boosted this number to over 1100 locations.

Several important leaders of the country will champion the event on the 15^th of December in various locations across India. To highlight a few – Shri. Lal Krishna Advani will lead the event in Gujarat, Shri. Rajnath Singh in Uttarakhand, Shri. Sushma Swaraj in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, Shri. Arun Jaitley in Delhi, Shri. Venkaiah Naidu in Mumbai, Maharashtra and Shri. Nitin Gadkari in Nagpur, Maharashtra.

Conceptualized by the Citizens for Accountable Governance (CAG), the National Movement Partner of Statue of Unity, and organized along with Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Rashtriya Ekta Trust (SVPRET), the run is supported by a host of Gujarat Government officials, civil society organizations and faith based organizations all over India.

The Run for Unity will be the curtain raiser to the Statue of Unity Movement, the largest country-wide drive to honour the memory of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. The movement aims to revive and reinforce Sardar Patel’s values of unity, good governance and grassroot development. Promoting the concept of ‘Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat,’ the Statue of Unity movement encompasses the following activities:

• Run for Unity (RFU): A 2km run/walk in more than 1100 locations in the country on 15th December
• Write for Unity (WFU): A slogan/Essay competition on Sardar Patel and his ideals of unity and good governance in 1.67 Lakh secondary and senior secondary school across the country in the months of December and January
• Photo Collage: A photo collage of elected representatives at grassroots level from over 2.5 Lakh governing bodies (Gram Panchayats and Wards). This will be showcased in a museum inside the statue complex
• Locality Meeting: 1.)Collection of about 700 tons of used farm iron tools from over 5 lakh villages, 2.) Collection of soil samples from all villages panchayats and 3.) Getting signatures of more than 2 crore people on the ‘Suraaj Petition’ (good governance petition) in support of a better India

The Statue of Unity is an initiative of the Government of Gujarat designed to pay tribute to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel by erecting the world’s tallest statue (182 m) in his honour. Executed under the aegis of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Rashtriya Ekta Trust (SVPRET), the Statue of Unity will not only be an architectural marvel, but a monument of national significance. It will be a proud symbol of the unity of India to the entire world for generations to come.

Source: http://www.narendramodi.in

 

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RUN FOR UNITY - List of Locations in Tamil Nadu 15 Dec, 2013

BJP, TAMIL NADU

RUN FOR UNITY

15 Dec, 2013

List of Locations in Tamil Nadu

Congress will lose in 2014 Lok sabha polls; Needs revamp: Mani Shankar Aiyar

News Source: Zee Media Bureau/Ajith Vijay Kumar Dec 11, 2013
 

The 125-year-old Indian National Congress (INC) is facing the biggest crisis in 10 years that it has been in power at the Centre. The poor showing in the recent concluded assembly elections has hastened the slide in the party’s future with leaders coming out in the open in protest. Clearly, the tide is now flowing against the UPA-2 government after its stellar performance in its earlier avatar.

Party stalwart Mani Shankar Aiyar created a flutter by predicting that Congress will lose the Lok Sabha elections scheduled to be held early next year. The maverick politician went on to demand an organisational revamp as envisaged by former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi.

"I would say it is good to lose. We can await an opportunity to do this revamping or refitting, reinvention of the party to suit the requirements of the 21st century, and that has to begin with Rajiv Gandhi's breakthrough, which is Panchayat Raj," he said.

"The Congress needs a revamp and reorganization in the party structure. It's too late for introspection. I think we need a serious revolutionary change in our organisation," said Aiyar.

Aiyar said the Congress has ideas and plans already but none of them have been applied yet. He also said the announcement of Lok Sabha candidates should be made early.

Read more...

Nitish rejects 'Modi Wave'

Source: The Hindu Dec,9, 2013 

Denying that there was a ‘Modi factor’ in the results of the four just-concluded Assembly elections, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Monday said the Delhi verdict showed that though it was an anti-Congress mandate, the people preferred a non-BJP alternative. 

“The mandate could be against the Congress. But from the way people voted in Delhi, it is clear that if they have an alternative to the Congress other than the BJP, they will opt for that. In Delhi, no party has a clear majority. In such a scenario, if there are re-elections, then the BJP’s myth will be shattered,” Mr. Kumar said on the sidelines of a Legislature session.

Asked about the much-touted ‘Modi factor,’ Mr. Kumar said: “What the BJP is saying is irrelevant. What’s important is what is before your eyes. Wherever the Congress and the BJP came face to face, we thought the BJP would have an advantage, but Delhi has dispelled that misconception. The BJP will get a deep shock after the 2014 elections. If there was a wave, the party should have got a two-thirds majority.” 

He reiterated his remark “blower ki hawa [wind from a blower]” to describe the BJP’s claims of the impact of its prime ministerial candidate. 

Mr. Kumar congratulated the Aam Aadmi Party on its performance in debut. “It was an experiment. The AAP has proved itself. The anti-corruption andolan of Anna Hazare’s is significant even today.”

Narendra Modi is a challange for Congress : Manmohan Singh

 

News Source: Economictimes 6 Dec 2013
 
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today disagreed with those in the Congress who were dismissive of the challenge posed by Narendra Modi but asserted that the party would approach the 2014 Lok Sabha polls with self- confidence, irrespective of the results of the just concluded elections in five states.

"As it is an organised party, we cannot underestimate the power of Opposition to unsettle the ship of the state. Therefore, I am one of those who take very seriously our opponents. There is no room for complacency," he said.

The Prime Minister was answering questions after delivering the keynote address at the 11th Hindustan Times Leadership Summit in NewDelhi.

Exit polls have predicted rout for Congress in the assembly polls to Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh when counting of votes takes place on Sunday. Counting of votes for Mizoram will take place on Monday.

Notwithstanding the poll projections, the Prime Minister said, "Congress party is going to the elections with the spirit of self-confidence and that should not be mistaken whatever may be the outcome of the provinical elections".

I have seen only strength and talent in Narendra Modi: Rajnath Singh

News Source: Economictimes 2013-12-04

Terming Narendra Modi as a "political leader with firm conviction", BJP president Rajnath Singh today said he he has only seen strength and talent in his party's Prime Ministerial candidate.

Singh also said although the matter of 'Ram Mandir' was subjudice and one should wait for its verdict, if it is proved that Muslims used that particular place (disputed place) for praying (namaz), he will acknowledge that the effort to construct the temple is "wrong".

"The strongest point of Narendra Modi is that he is a political leader of firm conviction and the kind of transparency in governance which he has shown after working as a chief minister for 12 years is worth the praise. Not only that, in terms of development, he has made Gujarat a model state," said Singh speaking at conclave organized by a TV channel.

Asked about his weak points, Singh said although he is yet to find any, he will try to find one. "I have only seen strength and talent," he said.

"If there is any weakness..he does not care about his health and works relentlessly for the development of the country and the society. It can either be seen as his weakness or strong point," Singh added.

Asked about Modi's "mistakes" on historic and economic facts during his public rallies, Singh said one can see his entire speech and he had not said Takshila was in Patna.

"He had not said that Takshila was in Patna..one can see the entire speech..There are times that during these hectic tours, there might be slip of tongue..we also do it sometimes.."Singh added.