Lucknow: Paying tribute to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on his death anniversary, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday said that Sardar Patel was the architect of modern India whose wisdom and efforts laid the foundation for a strong nation.
Highlighting the role of Patel in keeping the country united and strong, Yogi said: "As a key member of the Constituent Assembly and the first home minister of independent India, Sardar Patel spearheaded the integration of over 563 princely states into the country, laying the foundation to build a strong nation."
"The India, as we see presently, is a testament to Sardar Patel's vision, efforts, and tireless commitment. He came up with the idea of ‘One India, great India, and safe India'," he said.
Yogi added that Sardar Patel stood at the forefront and worked alongside the leadership to give a new direction to the country's freedom movement.
"Son of a farmer from a small village near Anand in Gujarat, Patel went to study law in England and came back to India with a degree to play a pivotal role in shaping the nation. He passed away on Dec 15, 1950. His extraordinary ideas and values are being taken forward by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is striving to build ‘One India, Best India' under the NDA govt," he said.
Pointing out major movements such as Quit India and the Dandi March, among others, Yogi highlighted the struggle he faced while being imprisoned during British rule. Noting his contribution in laying down the foundation of Gujarat's cooperative movement, which empowered the farmers in the state, Yogi said Sardar Patel was among the best leaders of the country.
"His initiatives to revive the Somnath Temple in 1948 were as significant as what was achieved in Ayodhya, where a new Ram Temple has come up," he said.
Crediting Narendra Modi for revoking the special status of Jammu and Kashmir accorded through Article 370, Yogi said had Patel been around after Independence, such a provision would not have been executed.
The programme was attended by social welfare minister Asim Arun, mayor Sushma Kharakwal, MLAs Shashank Verma, Amresh Kumar, Ashish Singh ‘Ashu', and MLC Lalji Prasad Nirmal.