Editing Vallabhbhai Patel (section)

=== Rashtriya Ekta Diwas ===
[[Rashtriya Ekta Diwas]] (National Unity Day), celebrated annual on 31 October, was introduced by the [[Government of India]] and inaugurated by Indian Prime Minister [[Narendra Modi]] in 2014. The official statement for Rashtriya Ekta Diwas by the [[Ministry of Home Affairs (India)|Home Ministry]] of India cites that the National Unity Day "will provide an opportunity to re-affirm the inherent strength and resilience of our nation to withstand the actual and potential threats to the unity, integrity and security of our country."<ref>{{Citation |title=Observance of the Rashtriya Ekta Diwas on 31st October |date=24 October 2014 |url=http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=110785 |work=pib.nic.in |place=New Delhi |publisher=[[National Informatics Centre]] |agency=[[Press Information Bureau]] |access-date=31 October 2017 |archive-date=7 November 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107021835/http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=110785 |url-status=live }}</ref>

National Unity Day celebrates the birthday of Patel because, during his term as [[Home Minister of India]], he is credited for the integration of over 550 independent [[Princely states of India|princely states]] into India from 1947 to 1949 by Independence Act (1947). He is known as the "[[Otto von Bismarck|Bismarck]] of India".{{efn|[[Otto von Bismarck]] was known for the 1871 [[unification of Germany]].}}<ref>{{cite news |last1=Rao |first1=Yogita |title=Most schools may skip Ekta Diwas for Diwali break |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/Most-schools-may-skip-Ekta-Diwas-for-Diwali-break/articleshow/44936240.cms |access-date=12 February 2021 |work=The Times of India |date=26 October 2014 |language=en |archive-date=22 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190222032409/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/Most-schools-may-skip-Ekta-Diwas-for-Diwali-break/articleshow/44936240.cms |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Government to observe Sardar Patel birth anniversary in big way |url=http://ianslive.in/index.php?param=news/Government_to_observe_Sardar_Patel_birth_anniversary_in_big_way-450637/NATION/1 |access-date=12 February 2021 |work=IANS Live |date=26 October 2014 |archive-date=4 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304223808/http://ianslive.in/index.php?param=news/Government_to_observe_Sardar_Patel_birth_anniversary_in_big_way-450637/NATION/1 |url-status=live }}</ref>