'Patel with his farsightedness brought together many provinces and helped turn it into the biggest democracy of the world,' Uttar Pradesh CM said on his 146th birth anniversary.
By 1937 provincial polls, Patel was a major force in Congress. He collected funds, selected candidates, and proved a solid party machine to back Nehru’s appeal.
PM Modi, whose two-day Gujarat visit started on Friday, reached the Statue of Unity at Kevadiya in Narmada district this morning and offered flowers at the Statue of Unity.
Foreign Minister Jaishankar tweeted quoting a biography that Nehru did not want Patel in the Cabinet in 1947 and omitted him from the initial Cabinet list.
Only after Nehru received Patel’s assent did he send the cabinet member list to Mountbatten on 4 August. Patel not only headed the list, but was to be the deputy PM.
Astute politician that he was, Sardar Patel clearly had insights into Nehru’s thinking, which informed the advice he gave the PM on sticking to the Constitution.
Aim is to ensure not just disengagement of troops, but overall de-escalation. Govt in favour of solving tensions through talks as it wants peace with all neighbours including China.
Like the car, nothing the party has done to reinvent itself has worked. Only way forward is to offer something looking towards the future, not in image of glorious past.