Completion of Narmada dam true tribute to Sardar, not statue: Dinsha Patel

Mining minister says it is more important for farmers to get water for irrigation

A true tribute to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel will be completion of the Narmada dam, its canal system and when farmers of Gujarat get water for irrigation, not a statue, said union minister of state for mines Dinsha Patel.

"Before building a statue (of Sardar Patel) first work of the dam should be completed, its canal network should become operational so that farmers of the state are benefitted. This will be a tribute in real sense to the great Sardar Patel," said Patel. He was asked if he considered it necessary to build a Sardar Patel statue to pay tribute to the great leader.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will be inaugurating Sardar Patel museum on October 29 which is developed by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Memorial society chaired by Patel. "On one hand blaming the Centre over completion of Narmada dam and then planning to spend Rs 2,500 crore over a huge statue of Sardar Patel, I don't what the (Gujarat) government wants," Patel said on sidelines of a function organised by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Memorial society.

The Union minister also criticised Modi government for not providing funds for the memorial. According to him, some money for the memorial was given by the state government during the chief ministership of Chimanbhai Patel, during whose tenure he (Dinsha Patel) was the PWD Minister. Over Rs 1 crore was also given to the society by the government of Keshubhai Patel. "We have got nothing from the present Gujarat government," Patel claimed.

He also indicated that the Gujarat chief minister was using Sardar Patel for political gains. "By seeking farmers from across the country to contribute iron for the statue of the Iron Man of India it is self-evident whether he (Modi) is doing politics or not.  All of you know what he is doing," Patel said yesterday declining to comment further of a question if Modi was using Sardar Patel's name for political motives.

Talking about the inaugural session of the Sardar Patel museum, Patel said that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had insisted BJP's PM candidate Narendra Modi was invited as he was head of the state.

Patel said that when he went to invite the PM, Singh told him that the person heading the state must be invited to the function, and Modi's name should be there on the invitation card. "He even called me up when I was in Nadiad to find out me if I had invited Modi and printed his name on the card," the minister added.