Dedicating the Statue of Unity to the nation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said it is India's reply to all those who question her existence and asked all citizens to remain united in countering efforts made by divisive forces. Unveiling the 182-metre Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel statue here, Modi also hit out at his critics for politicising the mission for erecting the tallest monument.

"Statue of Unity is to remind all those who question India's existence and its integrity. This country was, is and will always be eternal," Modi said. He said that the height of the statue is to remind the youth that the future of the country is in their aspirations and is as huge as this statue. "The only mantra to fulfil these aspirations are 'Ek Bharat-Shresth Bharat' (One India, Best India). Statue of Unity is also symbolic of our engineering and technological affordability," he added.