Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid floral tribute to India's first Home Minister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel at the Statue of Unity in Gujarat's Kevadia on the occasion of his 144th birth anniversary on Thursday.

President Ram Nath Kovind and Home Minister Amit Shah alsopaid tributes to Sardar Patel in New Delhi. Shah also flagged off the 'Run forUnity' event from Delhi's Dhyan Chand National Stadium to mark the birth anniversary of Sardar Patel.

Various programmes have been organised across the country on the 144th birth anniversary of Sardar Patel.

Since 2014, October 31 is observed as National Unity Day andpeople from all walks of life participate in the 'Run for Unity'. The Statue ofUnity in Kevadia was inaugurated by PM Modi in 2018. He had announced to buildthe statue when he was the Chief Minister of Gujarat.

"Tributes to the great Sardar Patel on his Jayanti. Hiscontribution to our nation is monumental," the Prime Minister tweetedearlier today.

PM Modi also participated in the National Unity Day parade(Ekta Diwas). He is also expected to visit the Technology Demonstration Siteand later interact with Civil Service Probationers at Kevadia.