Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs, Wailadmiki Shylla, on Tuesday said he will reach out to all 59 legislators of the state and ensure that invitations are sent to them to participate in the padyatra under the Sardar at 150 Unity Campaign.
Speaking to media persons in Shillong, Shylla said, “All the legislators also will feel equally responsible to make this padyatra a successful one because we know the legacy that our Iron Man Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel has put behind. I think everyone will take responsibility equally. We will definitely invite the legislators and I am confident that many will come forward. I will definitely send letter to the legislators to be part of this padyatra.” He urged people to “please join hand let us be united and make India an Atma Nirbhar Bharat.”
Announcing the launch of the Sardar 150 Unity March in Meghalaya, a regional initiative under the national campaign commemorating the 150th birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, the Minister said, “We are here today to share that we have been directed by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports to conduct the Unity March as part of the 150th birth anniversary celebration of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. This is a truly historic occasion, not just another event, but a movement that seeks to awaken the soul of the nation.”
He informed that the campaign, inaugurated on October 6 by Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, has already entered its digital phase, with youth across the country taking part in essay competitions, social media challenges, and leadership programmes through the My Bharat portal. The second phase will begin on October 31 and continue till November 25 with district-level padyatras across Meghalaya, each covering a distance of 8 to 10 kilometres in every district and Lok Sabha constituency.
“Before the regional padyatras begin, we will build momentum through debates, essay competitions, seminars, cleanliness drives, and Swadeshi Melas in schools and colleges,” Shylla said. “These marches will not merely be events but a mass awakening — just as Sardar Patel united the princely states to form one India, the Unity March will unite the hearts of our people,” he added.
The Minister said volunteers from My Bharat, NCC cadets, NSS members, schools, colleges, and various social and religious organisations will join the padyatras, which will also feature Swadeshi pledges, yoga camps, environmental campaigns, and exhibitions themed on Viksit Bharat.
Shylla stated that two to five padyatras from each region will travel by road to Karamsad, Gujarat — Sardar Patel’s birthplace — by November 25, joining others from across India. The grand culmination will take place on November 26, Constitution Day, when thousands of participants will march 152 kilometres from Karamsad to the Statue of Unity in Kevadia.
“When we remember Sardar Patel today, we must also remember that his dream was for generations to come,” Shylla said. “It is our duty to turn his dream of a united India into an Atmanirbhar and Viksit Bharat. I urge every citizen of our state to participate in this Unity March and uphold the spirit of national integration.”
Responding to media queries, Shylla confirmed that he will personally take part in the padyatra. “Right now this is at the initial stage because we want to inform the people first. Very soon we will chair the meeting through video conferencing with all the district administrations as you know this is not the program of only state capital but of all the districts. Therefore, we will be directing all the district administrations to organise padyatras in all the districts. I will sit with the department to see we have to coordinate because this padyatra lot of people will be there so we have to consult with the police department for the traffic and there is lot of thing,” he said.
Director of Sports and Youth Affairs, Dikki D. Shira; State Director of My Bharat Meghalaya, Sarvendra Pratap Singh; and Co-convener of the Unity March in Meghalaya, Hemanta Timung, were present during the press conference.
