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Gujarat chief minister and the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi on Thursday again raised the issue of the legacy of Vallabhbhai Patel and stated it was unfair to associate him with any political party.
Modi also made a jibe at Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s recent statement that Patel was a ‘truly secular’ Congress leader. Modi made a veiled attack on the Congress for its "vote-bank" secularism.
“I thank the Prime Minister for pointing out that Sardar Patel was a true secular. We, too, believe he was a true secular and the country needs Sardar-like secularism and not vote-bank secularism,” Modi told a huge gathering at the foundation stone-laying ceremony of the tallest statue of Patel, named Statue of Unity on Thursday.
“Sardar Patel was secular but while rebuilding the Somnath Temple, his secularism did not become an obstacle,” Modi said.
Earlier this week, Modi had shared the dais with Prime Minister Singh in Ahmedabad.
Modi went on to say, “We should not divide our legacy. Mahatma Gandhi fought against untouchability in society and tried to remove it. Now is the time that we end the political untouchability and remove it.”
Pointing to Sardar Patel’s efforts to unite the princely states to make a united India, Modi said it was his secularism that helped him to unite the princely states having different religions and culture.
In a packed school compound at Kevadia Colony near Sardar Sarovar Dam, Modi unveiled the plaque the for foundation stone-laying of the Statue of Unity project.
Modi also hinted that Sardar Patel was neglected by the Centre over the years on his birth anniversary day.
“Earlier, on October 31, when the Government of India gave out newspaper ads, Sardar Patel was hardly visible. But now they are compelled to give Sardar Patel’s birth anniversary advertisements nationally, maybe it’s a Gujarat effect.”
National BJP leaders including senior leader Lal Krishna Advani, Rajya Sabha MP Smriti Irani and Om Mathur along with Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi were present at the event. In his speech, Advani praised Modi’s efforts at creating the tallest statue of Sardar Patel and expressed happiness and pride for being part of the event.
The senior BJP leader, who was reportedly unhappy over Modi’s nomination for BJP’s prime ministerial candidate, added: “I am happy that Narendrabhai has been nominated BJP’s PM candidate.”The Statue of Unity will become the tallest statue in the world with 182 meters height and will be built on Sadhu Bet – an island in the Narmada river.
Modi also raised the issue of Narmada dam height at Sardar Sarovar. He alleged that the prime minister has not been taking any decision for the past eight to nine months on the increase in the dam height, owing to which neighbouring states including Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat will get more water and power.
“Despite repeated requests, the prime minister has not allowed to build the gates on Sardar Sarovar Dam. If you are waiting to get credit, I will allow a plaque to be written in your name. But in the interest of the people at large, please make quick decision on it,” said Modi.
