New Delhi: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on October 31 administered ‘Rashtriya Ekta Diwas Pledge’ to senior military and civilian officials of Ministry of Defence in New Delhi on the occasion of 144th birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.

Remembering the architect of united modern India, Singh along with the officials took vow to preserve the ‘Unity, Integrity and Security of the Nation’.

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 Defence 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 Dr Ajay Kumar, Secretary (Ex-servicemen Welfare) Ms 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 took part in the pledge.