Modi Targets Opposition at National Unity Day Event, Calls It an ‘Obstructionist Force’

At Ekta Nagar, Prime Minister invokes Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s legacy of national integration, highlights India’s response to global energy pressures and places the fight against Left-Wing Extremism at the center of the celebrations

Ekta Nagar, Gujarat: Prime Minister Narendra Modi used the National Unity Day celebrations in Gujarat on Saturday to deliver a sharp political message, accusing the opposition of obstructing the country’s development and attempting to undermine national unity. Speaking at Ekta Nagar on the 151st birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Modi said the opposition had ceased to function as a constructive political force and had instead become an “obstructionist force”.

The annual observance, held in honour of independent India’s first Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister, brought together personnel from central armed police forces, state police contingents and cultural groups. The ceremony featured a ceremonial parade, a national unity pledge administered by the Prime Minister and performances highlighting the government’s campaign against Left-Wing Extremism.

Modi accused opposition parties of allowing political frustration to shape their approach to governance. He said their actions were creating obstacles to development and undermining the dignity and constitutional boundaries of public institutions. He also alleged that certain forces were working to divide the country and questioned whether individuals were maintaining covert contacts with forces hostile to India abroad.

The Prime Minister called for national solidarity against what he described as attempts to weaken the country’s unity.

Patel’s legacy and the idea of national integration

Invoking Patel’s role in the integration of princely states after Independence, Modi said India’s diversity had never been an impediment to its unity. Rather, it was the foundation on which the country’s civilisational identity and collective strength rested.

Patel, he said, understood the character and consciousness of India and recognised that its cultural and regional differences could coexist within a shared national identity. His contribution went beyond the political consolidation of territory, extending to the creation of an emotional bond among citizens.

The Prime Minister described Patel as an indispensable figure in the making of modern India, particularly in the difficult period following Partition, when the territorial and political unity of the newly independent country remained a major challenge.

India’s resilience amid global energy pressures

Modi also referred to the global energy crisis of recent months, pointing to fuel supply pressures and restrictions on petroleum purchases in some countries. India, he said, had faced predictions of a particularly severe crisis because of its large population and dependence on imported petroleum.

He argued that the country had demonstrated its resilience by preventing the global disruption from translating into a comparable impact on ordinary citizens. The remarks formed part of a broader assertion of India’s economic and strategic capacity amid international uncertainty.

Security forces take centre stage

This year’s National Unity Day parade placed particular emphasis on the campaign against armed Naxalism. Personnel from the Border Security Force (BSF), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) and Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) participated alongside police contingents from states that have played significant roles in countering Left-Wing Extremism.

A special theatrical presentation titled ‘Naxal-Free India’, organised by the National School of Drama, was another major feature of the event. Nearly 2,000 artists from 126 districts affected by Left-Wing Extremism participated in the production, which sought to depict the conflict and the social transformation associated with the campaign against insurgency.

The presentation gave the celebrations a distinct security and governance dimension, linking the government’s national integration narrative with its claim of progress in tackling internal security challenges.

A nationwide pledge to unity

The evening ceremony followed a series of observances marking Patel’s birth anniversary. Earlier in the day, Modi paid tribute to the former Deputy Prime Minister at the Statue of Unity. Two Indian Air Force helicopters showered flower petals over the monument.

Millions of people across the country also participated in the annual Run for Unity, reaffirming their commitment to national integration.

The celebrations at Ekta Nagar combined Patel’s historical legacy with the government’s contemporary political and security priorities. While the ceremonial parade underscored the institutional strength of India’s security forces, the Prime Minister’s address placed national unity, political accountability and the fight against extremism at the centre of the day’s proceedings.