Live updates: Statue of Unity will remind world about courage of man who thwarted attempts to disintegrate India, says PM

PM Narendra Modi will unveil the Statue of Unity - the world’s tallest statue - in Gujarat's Kevadiya on Wednesday. The statue with a height of 182 metres (597 feet) will be inaugurated on the occasion of the 143rd birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.

AHMEDABAD: Amid protests by local villagers and severe criticism by Opposition parties, Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled the Statue of Unity - the world’s tallest statue - in Gujarat's Kevadiya on Wednesday. The statue with a height of 182 metres (597 feet) has been inaugurated on the occasion of the 143rd birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. Meanwhile, a 'Run For Unity' is also being held across the country as a fitting tribute to Sardar Patel - the country's first Home Minister.  

Elaborate security arrangements have also been put in place in Kevadiya ahead of the inauguration. Apprehending protests, the Gujarat Police on Tuesday detained several tribal leaders and activists in the Narmada district ahead of the inauguration of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel`s statue. The police went knocking on the doors of several tribal activists and leaders in Kevadia, Rajpipla and Dediapada talukas (blocks), detaining them under IPC 68, fearing disruption of the government programmes on Wednesday.

It may be recalled that the villagers of Kevadia have recently written an open letter to the PM Narendra Modi stating that they won't welcome him during the event on October 31. The letter has been written by headmen of nearly 22 villages situated near the Sardar Sarovar Dam in which they also announced to boycott the event citing widespread destruction of natural resources due to the memorial,

Calling 'Statue of Unity' a sheer wastage of people's money, the villagers said that people's hard-earned money is being wasted on such projects at a time when several villages of the area are still deprived of basic facilities like schools, hospitals and drinking water. The Gujarat Congress also targeted the BJP government and PM Modi over the non-completion of Narmada canal network.

Former Gujarat CM Shankersinh Vaghela too attacked the PM over the 'Statue of Unity' project and said that the PM should first unite vital institutions like the CBI and RBI before talking of unity.

Here are the live updates of the event:-

31 October 2018

12:31 IST

Prime Minister Narendra Modi signs visitors book at 'Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat Complex' near Statue of Unity

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

12:29 IST

PM Narendra Modi, BJP Chief Amit Shah, Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani and others visit museum and audio-visual gallery at 'Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat Complex' near Statue of Unity at Kevadiya in Gujarat

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/ZdtcnWWuar

— ANI (@ANI) October 31, 2018

11:52 IST

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurates Wall of Unity on 143rd anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel at Kevadiya in Gujarat

PM Shri @narendramodi inaugurates wall of unity in Kevadia, Gujarat. Watch LIVE at https://t.co/MOFcLxWfDB #StatueOfUnity pic.twitter.com/1dabZPQ76T

— BJP Gujarat (@BJP4Gujarat) October 31, 2018

11:24 IST

We have the power of youth who think for the country today. For the development of the country, this is the only way we have to move forward. Maintaining the unity, integrity and universality of the country is an obligation, which the Sardar Patel has given us: PM Modi

11:21 IST

I am amazed when some people of our own country dare to see this initiative from a political view and criticise us like we have committed a huge crime. Is remembering country's great personalities a crime, asks PM Modi

11:19 IST

Sardar Patel's statue will remind world about courage of man who thwarted attempts to disintegrate India, says PM Modi

11:17 IST

Tourists coming to visit the Statue of Unity will also be able to visit Sardar Sarovar Dam, the mountains of Satpura and Vindhya: PM Modi

11:16 IST

This monument of Sardar Patel is a symbol of his respect for millions of Indians, our power, and it is also an important place for the country's economy, employment generation. Thousands of tribal people will get direct employment every year: PM Modi

11:14 IST

Statue of Unity is a symbol of our engineering and technological strengths. Workers, craftsmen have worked on mission mode every day in the nearly three and a half years. Under the leadership of Ram Sutar, the team of wonderful artisans of the country has accomplished this glorious monument of art, says PM Modi

11:12 IST

This statue is a manifestation of Sardar Patel's own love, talent, happiness, and spirituality. This statue is meant to remind those who question the existence of India, that the nation was eternal, is eternal and will always remain eternal, says PM Modi

11:09 IST

If it was not for Sardar Patel's resolve, then we Indians would have to take visa to see the Gir lions, pray at Somnath, or to see Hyderabad's Charminar: PM Modi

10:53 IST

Today India has worked to highlight a golden page of its history. The nation has created a new history for itself and an inspiration for the future: PM Modi

10:48 IST

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

10:46 IST

Events like today's are 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 to the nation: PM Modi

10:43 IST

Today the entire country is celebrating Rashtriya Ekta Diwas honouring Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel: PM Narendra Modi speaking at the inauguration of the Statue of Unity in Gujarat

10:38 IST

WATCH: Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveils the Statue of Unity at Gujarat

PM Narendra Modi inaugurates Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel's #StatueOfUnity pic.twitter.com/c3wfzLBkH4

— ANI (@ANI) October 31, 2018

10:32 IST

PM Narendra Modi inaugurates Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel's statue, Statue of Unity, at Gujarat. PM  dedicates the statue to the nation.

PM Narendra Modi inaugurates Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel's #StatueOfUnity pic.twitter.com/c3wfzLBkH4

— ANI (@ANI) October 31, 2018

10:23 IST

Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives for the inauguration of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. BJP President Amit Shah, Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani and Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel, and Madhya Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel also present at the inauguration.

Gujarat: Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives for inauguration of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel's #StatueOfUnity pic.twitter.com/AGCzMWoANd

— ANI (@ANI) October 31, 2018

10:06 IST

PM Narendra Modi visits Valley of Flowers and Tent City in Kevadia, Gujarat ahead of the unveiling of the Statue of Unity.

PM Shri @narendramodi visits Valley of Flowers in Kevadia, Gujarat. Watch at https://t.co/80fi6OOq2b #StatueOfUnity pic.twitter.com/HTTjuWh7Tz

— BJP (@BJP4India) October 31, 2018

09:07 IST

Cultural celebrations underway near Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel's Statue Of Unity in Gujarat's Kevadiya that will be inaugurated by PM Modi in a short while from now - WATCH

#WATCH: Celebrations underway near Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel's #StatueOfUnity in Gujarat's Kevadiya that will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi today. #RashtriyaEktaDiwas pic.twitter.com/ioafhMipKd

— ANI (@ANI) October 31, 2018

08:59 IST

Cultural celebrations begin in Kevadia ahead of the unveiling of the Statue of Unity.

Gujarat: #Visuals of celebrations from near Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel's #StatueOfUnity that will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi today. #RashtriyaEktaDiwas pic.twitter.com/P3nrbwn7dO

— ANI (@ANI) October 31, 2018

08:58 IST

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: Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman at the Run For Unity in Tamil Nadu's Chennai.

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: Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman at #RunForUnity in Tamil Nadu's Chennai. #RashtriyaEktaDiwas pic.twitter.com/sL64Lx2xJU

— ANI (@ANI) October 31, 2018

08:55 IST

PM Modi arrives in Kevadiya where he will inaugurate Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel's Statue Of Unity in a short while from now.

Gujarat: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has reached Kevadiya where he will inaugurate Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel's #StatueOfUnity today. #RashtriyaEktaDiwas. (File pic) pic.twitter.com/wD9aczfBFl

— ANI (@ANI) October 31, 2018

08:53 IST

Here are some visuals from Kevadia where PM will shortly inaugurate the Statue Of Unity.

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

08:50 IST

PM Modi pens special article highlighting the contribution of Sardar Patel in uniting the nation.A special day and a special tribute. Here is my article, on the landmark contribution of Sardar Patel to our country and why Sardar Jayanti this year is even more unique.

A special day and a special tribute.

Here is my article, on the landmark contribution of Sardar Patel to our country and why Sardar Jayanti this year is even more unique. https://t.co/xhtSqQ5HiY

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 31, 2018

08:43 IST

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

dsh ko ektaa k str m piron vaal lauh prss srdaar vllbhbhaaii pttl ko unkii jytii pr kotti-kotti nmn /

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

08:42 IST

The police went knocking on the doors of several tribal activists and leaders in Kevadia, Rajpipla and Dediapada talukas (blocks), detaining them under IPC 68, fearing disruption of the government programmes on Wednesday.

08:41 IST

Apprehending protests, the Gujarat Police on Tuesday detained several tribal leaders and activists in the Narmada district ahead of the inauguration of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel`s statue.

08:39 IST

Former Gujarat CM Shankersinh Vaghela too attacked the PM over the 'Statue of Unity' project and said that the PM should first unite vital institutions like the CBI and RBI before talking of unity.

08:39 IST

The Gujarat Congress also targeted the BJP government and PM Modi over the non-completion of Narmada canal network.

08:38 IST

Calling 'Statue of Unity' a sheer wastage of people's money, the villagers said that people's hard-earned money is being wasted on such projects at a time when several villages of the area are still deprived of basic facilities like schools, hospitals and drinking water.

08:38 IST

The letter has been written by headmen of nearly 22 villages situated near the Sardar Sarovar Dam in which they also announced to boycott the event citing widespread destruction of natural resources due to the memorial,

08:36 IST

The project has run into troubled waters as the villagers of Kevadia have recently written an open letter to the PM Narendra Modi stating that they won't welcome him during the event on October 31. 

08:35 IST

On the occasion, cultural and musical programmes will be performed by the bands of the Gujarat Police, armed and paramilitary forces. There will also be dance and musical performances by artists drawn from 29 states and two Union Territories.

08:34 IST

After PM Modi unveils the statue, three IAF planes would fly past and create the tricolour in the sky by emitting saffron, white and green colours.

08:33 IST

The PM would also inaugurate the 'Wall of Unity' (a monument defining India's unity) near the statue. After inaugurating the Wall of Unity, PM Modi would offer floral tributes to Patel.

08:33 IST

The statue has been built using over 70,000 tonnes of cement, 18,500 tonnes of reinforcement steel, 6,000 tonnes of structural steel and 1,700 metric tonnes of bronze, which was used for the outer cladding of the structure, according to the government statement.

08:32 IST

The Statue of Unity is nearly 100 feet taller than China's Spring Temple Buddha, which is currently the tallest statue with a height of 502 feet.

08:31 IST

The imposing monument is twice the height of Statue of Liberty and is built on an islet, Sadhu Bet, near the Sardar Sarovar Dam in Narmada district.

08:29 IST

The PM also shared the pictures of the iconic statue on Twitter. 

Tomorrow, on the Jayanti of Sardar Patel, the 'Statue of Unity' will be dedicated to the nation.

The statue, which is on the banks of the Narmada is a fitting tribute to the great Sardar Patel. https://t.co/9Z5PHE9uTM pic.twitter.com/6TXMYPaJm6

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 30, 2018

08:28 IST

PM Modi took to Twitter on Tuesday and said, "Tomorrow, on the Jayanti of Sardar Patel, the 'Statue of Unity' will be dedicated to the nation. The statue, which is on the banks of the Narmada is a fitting tribute to the great Sardar Patel."