Lucknow, Oct 31: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said on Tuesday that the Bharat Ratna Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, who unified the country by bringing together several princely states post independence, did not get the honour that he deserved until 2014 when Prime Minister Narendra Modi took over.
After laying a wreath of flowers on Sardar Patel’s statue at the Sardar Patel Memorial Park in Hazratganj on the occasion of his birth anniversary, Yogi said it was PM Modi who for the first time declared October 31 as the National Unity Day in view of the Iron Man of the country’s contribution to making different princely states a part of the Republic of India.
Earlier, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh paid homage to Sardar Patel by garlanding his statue. Rajnath Singh and CM Yogi also flagged off the race titled ‘Run for Unity’ on the occasion.
Deputy CM Keshav Prasad Maurya, Brajesh Pathak, MP Kaushal Kishore, Cabinet Minister Suresh Khanna, Chief Secretary Durga Shankar Mishra were prominent among those who attended the programme.
The CM said, “On this occasion, the countrymen forget caste, creed, religion, region and language and express their gratitude towards Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel by joining the ‘Run for Unity’. I thank all the children, youth and elderly who have come in large numbers to participate in the ‘Run for Unity’ on short notice.”
Speaking on the occasion, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said this day meant to remember all those freedom fighters and leaders, who played a major role in liberating India and then building the independent country.
He said, “When India became independent, it was divided into 562 princely states. The British deliberately gave the princely states a chance to decide whether to merge, or remain separate. In such a situation, it is difficult to even imagine today what difficult situation and challenge Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel would have faced as the Home Minister of the country.”
Rajnath said it was the result of Sardar Patel’s foresight and his diplomatic and strategic ability that the unity and integrity of India could be ensured.
“You all must have heard about the incidents related to Junagadh princely state and Nizamshahi. Sardar Patel merged these two princely states into India,” he said.
He said, “If the task of merger of Jammu and Kashmir had been entrusted to Sardar Patel, then the problem of Article 370 of the Constitution would not have arisen. Had Sardar Patel not shown wisdom and determination at that time, today Indians would have needed a visa and passport to go to Junagadh and Hyderabad.”
