New Delhi: Remembering Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on his death anniversary, union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday said that despite all the adverse circumstances back in the day, Patel unified the fragmented country into a strong shape of one nation after independence.
Paying rich tributes to the veteran leader, who was also independent India’s first Home Minister, Shah said that he made the security of India, internal stability and establishment of peace, his life’s goal. The Home Minister also said that Patel was the leader who laid the foundation of self-reliant India by reviving the cooperative movement and making women and farmers self-reliant, and his teachings and ideals will continue to guide the nation like a guiding star on the “nation first” path.
Earlier this year on October 31, on the occasion of Patel’s 150th birth anniversary, Shah also recalled that while the nation celebrated independence, Patel was actively monitoring naval warships to secure Lakshadweep. By sending the Navy in time and hoisting the tricolor, the iron man ensured that the islands became part of India—a major post-independence contribution.
Shah had earlier mentioned that Patel had integrated the princely states into a united India, and the only unfinished task concerning Kashmir was fulfilled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi through the abrogation of Article 370 of Jammu and Kashmir.
He had also criticised previous Congress governments for not giving due respect to the stalwart, noting that it took 41 years for Patel to be awarded the Bharat Ratna.
Shah had also said that no monument or memorial had been built to commemorate Patel’s work until Prime Minister Modi assumed office, after which the Statue of Unity was constructed in his honour.
