Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah unveiled an 11-ft tall statue of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel in Jodhpur, Rajasthan today. On this occasion, Union Minister Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and many other dignitaries were present.

In his address, Shri Amit Shah said that Sardar Patel is a page of history to which history and the nation both failed to do justice. He mentioned that the virtues, sacrifices, hard work, and foresight of a great man like Sardar Patel are benefiting the country today, but he did not receive the proper recognition and respect earlier. Shri Shah said that for decades, a party steeped in devotion to one family never even built a memorial of Sardar Patel. He highlighted that Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi honored Sardar Patel by constructing the world’s tallest Statue of Unity at Kevadia in Gujarat.

Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation said that India can never forget the qualities and contributions of Sardar Patel. He mentioned that Sardar Patel was a person who never cared about fame or recognition and took on the challenges faced by the country, freeing it from them. Shri Shah said that if Sardar Patel had not existed, more than 556 princely states would not have been unified, and the map of India as we see it today would not have existed. He emphasized that it was Sardar Patel’s contribution that allowed India to stand united as the Indian Union. Shri Shah pointed out that Sardar Patel played a significant role in bringing several princely states of Gujarat and Rajasthan out of various conspiracies and integrating them with India.

Shri Amit Shah said that the 11-ft tall statue of Sardar Patel, weighing 1,100 kilograms, is made of several metals and has been placed on an 8-foot-high pedestal. He stated that even though the statue’s height is 11-ft, its fragrance would spread for ages. He added that it was Sardar Patel who persuaded the Maharaja of Jodhpur to merge the princely state of Jodhpur into India. Home Minister also noted that Sardar Patel converted the Jodhpur Airbase into a strategic airbase, contributing to India’s security.

Union Home Minister said that Winston Churchill had predicted that India would fall apart after gaining independence, but due to Sardar Patel, India stands strong and proud in front of the world today. He said that the same Britain, which ruled India for many years, has now been overtaken by India and India’s economy has become the fifth-largest in the world. Shri Shah credited this success to Sardar Patel’s resolve and said that Sardar Patel disproved Churchill’s statement by making India strong, unified, and intact.

Shri Amit Shah said that many things remained unfinished in Sardar Patel’s short lifetime. He pointed out that the abrogation of Article 370, Article 35A, the Uniform Civil Code, the construction of the grand Ram Temple in Ayodhya, the abolition of triple talaq and protection of the country’s army and border among other tasks that were left incomplete during Patel’s time were all achieved within 10 years under Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s leadership. He said that today, Article 370 no longer exists, and Jammu and Kashmir has become an integral part of India. He also said that the implementation of the Uniform Civil Code has started in Uttarakhand under Prime Minister Modi’s leadership and that triple talaq has been abolished. Shri Shah highlighted that the dream of building the grand Ram Temple in Ayodhya was realized during PM Modi’s tenure. He noted that earlier, terrorist attacks would occur, and innocent citizens were killed, but after becoming Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi reorganised the Indian Armed Forces and established a strong defence policy. He recalled that after the Uri and Pulwama attacks, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi responded by conducting surgical strikes and air strikes within 10 days, eliminating terrorists inside Pakistan.

Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation said that all the unfinished resolutions of Sardar Patel were completed under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi. He remarked that such a great personality was once overlooked due to the dominance of one family and the party’s vindictive approach, fueled by internal disagreements. Shri Shah said that the truth cannot be suppressed and will eventually shine like the sun at the right time. He added that Sardar Patel has now been awarded the Bharat Ratna and that the world’s tallest statue is dedicated to him.

Shri Amit Shah said that Prime Minister Modi has decided to celebrate Sardar Patel’s 150th birth anniversary for two years, which he said would lay the foundation for creating a great India. He concluded by stating that the 11-ft tall and 1,100-kilogram statue of Sardar Patel installed today would certainly remind and inspire the younger generation about the principles of Sardar Patel.

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