Advani lauds Vallabhbhai Patel

BJP patriarch L K Advani today heaped praises on Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi lauded his contribution towards the integration and unity of the country.
Extolling Patel for the consolidation of Indian Union after partition, Advani said that the present political map of India is largely a product of tireless efforts of the first Home Minister of independent India.
"The stellar efforts Sardar Patel in consolidating the Indian Union post partition, of course with Pandit Nehru's assistance, cannot even be thought of today," Advani said.
"In consultation with VP Menon, Patel tactfully handled the challenging job of mollifying several rulers of erstwhile independent states," he added.

Advani was speaking at an event organised by Anuvrat Maha Samiti, a Jain religious organisation, where he was awarded the Anuvrat Puruskar 2014.
Flagging off "Run for Unity" to mark Patel's 139th birth anniversary on October 31, Modi had said that he had devoted his life for the unity of the nation.