Former PM Deve Gowda praises PM Modi for building Statue of Unity

Former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda has praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the making of the world’s tallest statue of Sardar Vallabhai Patel in Gujarat. Informing about the development, the Prime Minister's office said that Deve Gowda hailed PM Modi. He has said that the place has been made attractive and indigenous and that is why people across the globe are visiting both the ‘Statue of Unity’ as well as ‘Sardar Sarovar Dam’. Prime Minister Modi has expressed happiness after former PM Deve Gowda visited the Statue of Unity.

The PMO also said that Deve Gowda recalled that Ahmedabad airport was renamed as Sardar Vallabhai Patel International airport and Sardar Vallabhai Patel memorial was built in his home town in Nadiad, Gujarat in the past. Deve Gowda was quoted saying that these have been brought to a logical end by the construction of the world’s tallest statue for the Iron Man of India. 

READ: Karti Chidambaram 'photo-op' claim on PM Modi's plogging smashed

Prime Minister Modi called Statue of Unity 'majestic'

On the occasion of Prime Minister's birthday, he was in his home state Gujarat. On the day, he tweeted a video with an aerial view of Statue of Unity as was surveying tourism projects in Kevadia at the Sardar Sarovar Dam. The video showed the aerial view of the world's tallest statue from all sides. The edifice of the Iron Man of India was seen with the backdrop of the hills around the Narmada River. In his tweet, PM Modi described the statue as 'majestic' and asserted how it was a tribute to one of the great founding-father of India.

READ: Statue of Unity 'majestic', says PM Modi sharing video on his birthday

Statue of Unity

Inaugurated by PM Modi on October 31, 2018, on the 143rd birth anniversary of Sardar Patel in Gujarat, the Statue of Unity is the world's tallest statue occupying over 20,000 square meters and surrounded by a 12 square km artificial lake. The 182 metres (597 feet) statue of Sardar Patel featured in the 2019 World Architecture News Awards, earlier in May. The prestigious and internationally acclaimed award showcases the best international design in both current and future projects. In a proud moment, the 'Statue of Unity' in Gujarat was also included in TIME magazine's 'World's 100 Greatest Places of 2019' list. Taking to Twitter, the Prime Minister termed it an "excellent news". He added that he is glad that the 'Statue of Unity' is emerging as a "popular tourist spot." PM Modi in his tweet also said that few days back, the Statue of Unity recorded 34,000 people visitors in a single day.

READ: PM Modi shames Congress for taking J&K issue to UK, issues challenge

READ: Dutch King and Queen Maxima meet President Kovind, PM Modi in Delhi