Daijiworld Media Network - Vadodara

Vadodara, Nov 29: Addressing the Sardar Gatha during the ‘Sardar @150 Unity March’, Union Minister J.P. Nadda hailed Vallabhbhai Patel as the “architect of modern India,” emphasizing that today’s India is deeply rooted in Patel’s nation-building efforts.

Nadda said Patel’s greatest contribution was uniting the country, transforming the vision of India’s ancient civilization into reality within two years. He highlighted Patel’s personal sacrifices, noting that although Patel was a successful barrister in Ahmedabad, he gave up a comfortable life at Mahatma Gandhi’s call to serve the nation.

Patel’s moral strength and administrative skill made him central to the freedom struggle, with a lifelong commitment to public welfare and support for farmers. Nadda lauded Patel’s historic achievement of integrating 562 princely states into independent India through dialogue, persuasion, and decisive action.

Nadda contrasted Patel’s approach with Jawaharlal Nehru’s handling of Jammu & Kashmir, claiming Nehru’s decision led to Article 370, which he described as a “festering sore” on national unity. He stated that Patel had convinced Maharaja Hari Singh to join India, but Nehru created obstacles with Article 370. The BJP government, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, fulfilled Patel’s mission by scrapping Article 370 on August 5, 2020, completing the integration of Jammu and Kashmir.

Nadda concluded, “The India we talk about today, a strong, united, Viksit Bharat, is possible only because of Vallabhbhai Patel.”