New Delhi, Dec 15: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday paid tribute to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on his death anniversary. Taking on social media platform X, the Prime Minister called the Iron Man “an inspiration for the countrymen for the unity, integrity of the nation.”
“Hundreds of salutes to the Iron Man of the country, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on his death anniversary. His personality and work will continue to be an inspiration for the countrymen for the unity, integrity of the nation and the achievement of the resolution of a developed India,” he posted on X.
Home Minister Amit Shah also paid tribute to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and penned a post on social media X, formerly known as Twitter.
“I remember and pay my tribute to the symbol of India’s unity, ‘Iron Man’ Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on his death anniversary. Sardar Patel laid the foundation stone for the creation of modern India by integrating more than 550 princely states. His dedication towards national unity and integrity laid a strong foundation for ‘Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat’. Sardar Saheb’s great personality and resolve to build the nation will forever remain a guide like the Pole Star for those who give priority to the national interest,” he posted on X.
On this occasion, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh wrote that Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s contribution will never be forgotten.
“My heartfelt tributes to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on his ‘Punyatithi’. India will never forget his vision and contribution,” he posted on X.
Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, also known as the Iron Man of India, was born on October 31, 1875, in Gujarat’s Nadiad. He played a crucial role during the freedom struggle of India and was instrumental in the integration of over 500 princely states into the Indian Union. He was also the first Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister of the independent India.
In his remembrance, National Unity Day was introduced by the Central government in 2014. Sardar Patel is credited with uniting all 562 princely states of the pre-independent country to build the Republic of India.
Since 2014, October 31 has been observed as National Unity Day or Rashtriya Ekta Diwas and on this occasion ‘Run for Unity’ is organised across the country, which is participated by people from all walks of life.
Patel died on December 15, 1950, after suffering a heart attack at Birla House in Mumbai. He was conferred the Bharat Ratna Award posthumously in 1991.
‘Unifying force, great freedom fighter’: Cong leaders remember ‘Iron Man of India’
New Delhi, Dec 15: Congress President Malikarjun Kharge and Member Parliament Priyanka Gandhi Vadra paid tributes to former Congress President Sardar Vallabhai Patel on the occasion of his 74th death anniversary on Sunday.
In a post on X, Priyanka Gandhi said that the former President was a great freedom fighter, creator of modern India and the symbol of unity and integrity of the country. “Respectful tribute to the great freedom fighter, creator of modern India, symbol of unity and integrity of the country, former President of the Indian National Congress and Bharat Ratna Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on his death anniversary,” she said.
Further, the Congress MP said that Patel strengthened the values of democracy, justice equality, truth, non-violence and satyagraha under the aegis of Mahatma Gandhi. “Sardar Patel, who strengthened the values of democracy, justice, equality, truth, non-violence and satyagraha under the aegis of Mahatma Gandhi, along with Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru laid the foundation of Indian democracy and built the country. His great ideas and contributions are a source of inspiration for the entire country,” she said.
Congress President Malikarjun Kharge, in a post on X earlier, paid tribute to Patel. “Our duty is that we should decide that we have to live like brothers in India… whatever be the community. Hindu, Muslim, Sikh, Parsi, Christian, everyone should understand that this is our country, Sardar Patel,” he said.
“Humble tribute to the Iron Man of India, the first Deputy Prime Minister of the country, former Congress President and our source of inspiration, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, on his death anniversary, who united independent India into a single nation,” he added.
Further, Kharge said that Patel’s thoughts would continue to remain his ideals and inspire the future generations. “His thoughts will always remain our ideal and will continue to inspire future generations to serve the nation,” the Congress President wrote.
Former leader of the Congress party, Patel played an important role in the country’s struggle for independence.
Loyal to Mahatma Gandhi, he served as the first Deputy Prime Minister of the country and also organized relief efforts for refugees who fled from Punjab and Delhi to Pakistan and worked on restoring peace.
His thoughts will always remain our ideal and will continue to inspire future generations to serve the nation. He breathed his last at the Birla House located in Bombay on December 15, 1950, and is best remembered as the ‘Unifier of India’.
ANI
