Sir — This refers to the report, “Prez stresses on equity” (July 26). Ram Nath Kovind deserves all appreciation for fondly remembering the Iron Man of India, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, with the bold omission of Jawaharlal Nehru in his first-ever speech as President of India. By doing so, President Kovind reminded one of a bitter historical fact of Sardar Patel being unfortunately prevented from becoming the first Prime Minister of independent India. Post-independent history of India would have been far better had Sardar Patel become the Prime Minister instead of Nehru.
It is unfortunate that the Opposition criticised Kovind’s naming of selfless social worker Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyay. It is the prerogative of any personality, including the person seated at the highest post, to remember his role-models on appropriate occasions.