Ignoring criticism of the Congress that he was trying to usurp the legacy of freedom fighters and legends like Sardar Valabhbha Patel and Subhash Chandra Bose, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday credited Patel with uniting India after partition and said it was his timely intervention which helped save Jammu & Kashmir from "aggression".
Last Sunday, commemorating the 75th anniversary of the Azad Hind Government formed by Netaji, Modi had unfurled the National Flag at the Red Fort and targeted the Nehru-Gandhi family for "neglecting" the contribution of nationalist leaders like Bose. In the past also,
Modi had been highly critical of the Congress for allegedly backstabbing "Patel and Netaji". While congress feels that this was Modi's way of slighting Nehru, the BJP leaders have maintained that the PM was only trying to place the history in true perspective.
In his monthly 'Mann ki Baat' radio address, Modi also urged the youth to participate in large numbers in the 'run for unity' being organised on October 31 to mark the birth anniversary of Patel.
Modi said, "If we are able to see a united India now, it was entirely on account of the sagacity and strategic wisdom of Sardar Patel."
He said this year, October 31 will be special as the statue of unity will be dedicated to the nation as a "true tribute" to Sardar Patel . Erected on the banks of the River Narmada in Gujarat, the structure is twice the height of the Statue of Liberty in the US.
"This is the world's tallest statue. Every Indian will now be proud to see the world's tallest statue here on Indian soil. Sardar Patel, a true son of the soil will adorn our skies too," he said.
In his address, the Prime Minister also paid tributes to late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on her death anniversary, which is also on October 31. "October 31 also is the death anniversary of our former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. Our respectful tributes to Indira ji too," he said.
The Prime Minister pointed out that Infantry Day is observed every year on October 27 as the first Indian soldiers had set their foot in Jammu and Kashmir to take on intruders from Pakistan.
Quoting late Field Marshal S H F J Manekshaw, he said Patel was "irked" at the delay in initiating military action to evict the aggressors.
He said, in an interview Manekshaw had recalled that as a colonel then he was part of a meeting where Patel was irked on the delay in sending troops to Kashmir.
"During the proceedings, Sardar Patel gave him (Manekshaw) a characteristic glance and reiterated that there should be no delay in our Army operation and that a solution should be sought swiftly. And immediately after that, our troops flew to Kashmir….We've seen how our Army was successful," Modi said.
He recalled that in January, 1947 the Time magazine had profiled Patel and described him as a person who possessed the capability to unite the country and "heal wounds".
Mahatma Gandhi, the PM said, considered Patel as the only one capable of finding a lasting solution to the vexed issue of the states and asked him to act. "Sardar Patel formulated solutions one by one, weaving the warp and weft of unity on the axis of a single thread. He ensured the merger of all princely states with the Dominion of India. Whether Junagadh, Hyderabad, Travancore, or for that matter the princely states of Rajasthan, if we are able to see a united India now, it was entirely on account of the sagacity and strategic wisdom of Sardar Patel," Modi said.
