Sardar Patel was an INC leader: Congress reminds BJP

Criticising the Prime Minister Narendra Modi led-NDA Government for focussing solely on Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel's anniversary and avoiding a mention of former prime minister Indira Gandhi to the satisfaction, the Congress Party on Saturday reminded the former that Sardar Patel was an Indian National Congress (INC) leader.

"They (BJP) remembered Sardar Patel because they have scarcity of leaders who, along with Mahatma Gandhi, participated in the freedom struggle... It is also true that he was the deputy prime minister and first home minister of the country. I think it is important to remind Narendra Modi and the BJP the fact that Sardar Patel was the leader of the Indian National Congress," Congress leader Anand Sharma told the media here at a press conference.

"It would have been better if the government would have mentioned the important decisions made by him where he had worked for the unification and development of the states. After the death of Mahatma Gandhi, Sardar Patel took the decision of putting ban on RSS," he added.

"As I have said the Prime Minister made many observations and so did his cabinet ministers this morning, which once again confirm a very sectarian, narrow and petty mindset. I want to remind the PM that India's history is well documented and that we can understand his desperation to borrow India's icons and heroes who led the freedom struggle. Sardar patel was India's Home Minister, Deputy Prime Minister and a leader of the Indian National Congress, surely he cannot be ignorant of this fact," he added.

"Prime Minister Modi by his actions and words is repeatedly assaulting the dignity of his post which is the highest office in our democracy and he is expected to conduct his affairs and speak in a manner which enhances the dignity of this high office. He organises run for unity but the actions of his party president are divisive and inflammatory," he said.

Prime Minister Modi had earlier today remembered the 'Iron Man's' struggle in unifying the nation under the British rule.

"Every decision Sardar saab made was with a certain plan for the nation. His contribution to the nation is priceless. He did not want the nation to go back to being scattered after he left, that is why during his rule, and he fought every divisive element in the nation and united India in a short time," Prime Minister Modi said addressing the nation on the birth anniversary of Sardar Patel.

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He added that it was Sardar Patel who began the 'Clean India' campaign which was lauded by Mahatma Gandhi and he also fought for women's reservation in India among his other priceless contributions for the nation.