In a sharp criticism of those making anti-national comments, Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar on Tuesday said that making comments against the country have become a “fashion” and underlined the importance of former Home Minister Sardar Vallabh-bhai Patel passion for nationalism and unity of the country.
Parrikar, a former Defence Minister, also said that the visionary Patel had foretold of India’s conflicts with Pakistan and India, and also added that the Kashmir problem could have been resolved if the former Home Miniter’s views had been considered by the country’s leadership then.
“...anyone who speaks against the country is sometimes considered as one with great intellect, smart and elite. Speaking against the country has become a fashion,” Parrikar said while speaking at a function in the state capital, which was organised to mark the twin events of Rashtriya Sankalp Diwas on occasion of the death anniversary of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and Rashtriya Ekta Diwas, which is held every year to celebrate the birth anniversary of India's first Home Minister Sardar Patel.
Parrikar, a former Defence Minister credited the spirit and efforts of Patel, who managed to bring all the princely states together and unified India, into the country it has become.
Patel, Parrikar said, was a man of great vision, who had envisioned the perils which could face India, way back in 1950. "I got an opportunity to read about Sardar Patel when I became Defence Minister two years back. I read one of his letters written to Jawaharlal Nehru. In the letter, the subject was about our adversaries on the northern border," he said.
"In 1950, Sardar Patel had predicted what would happen in 1965, the war that happened with China. Even the Doklam issue which has cropped up now, all these issues are mentioned in the three-page letter. It was an utter shock for me. I had not read the letter until then," the former Defence Minister said.
Parrikar also said that the vexed Kashmir problem may have been resolved, had his views on the subject been considered at that point of time.
"He was so accurate, perfect. He had raised the perfect question on the Kashmir issue.
The question about Kashmir has persisted on Tuesday because Patel's views were not considered," Parrikar said.
He also spoke glowingly about the role and leadership of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, especially during the 1971 war.
"Indira Gandhi gave the country good leadership. In 1971, she taught our enemy on the western border a good lesson, but Pakistan is still not getting any wiser," he said.