Congress Rebuts Amit Shah’s Allegations Regarding Sardar Patel’s Legacy

Political Exchange Over Patel’s Legacy

On Saturday, the Indian National Congress responded to criticisms leveled by Union Home Minister Amit Shah. During an address at an 'Ekta Run' event in New Delhi on the occasion of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s 151st birth anniversary, Shah accused the Congress party of historically sidelining the leader and failing to grant him appropriate recognition.

Congress Response

Senior Congress leader Salman Khurshid countered these claims, arguing that such political rhetoric negatively impacts the public image of the country’s first deputy prime minister. Khurshid stated:

• The Congress maintains that Sardar Patel deserves profound respect.
• The party acknowledges his vital role in the national integration of India.
• The organization remains committed to the vision and actions of Patel as he intended.

Khurshid suggested that by repeatedly raising such accusations, the ruling party is diminishing the stature of the leader rather than honoring him.

Amit Shah’s Remarks

During the 'Ekta Run' event, Amit Shah credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi with ensuring Patel’s legacy was preserved. Key points from his address included:

• A claim that the Congress party attempted to erase Patel’s contributions from national memory.
• Praise for the Statue of Unity in Gujarat, which he described as the world's tallest statue.
• Highlighting Patel’s achievement in integrating princely states into the Indian Union within a period of 1,218 days.

National Unity Day Observance

Sardar Patel’s birth anniversary is observed across India as 'Rashtriya Ekta Diwas' (National Unity Day). On the same day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid floral tributes to Patel at the Statue of Unity in Ekta Nagar, Gujarat. The government continues to emphasize Patel's role as the 'Iron Man of India' in shaping the nation's unified identity post-independence.