Shri Bipinbhai Patel - Grandson of Sardar Patel handed over Bharat Ratna to Honorable Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani; Shri Narendra Modi Chief Minister of Gujarat; Shri Ashok J Patel President of Sardar Patel Trust.

Drawing parallels Modi said, "Swami Ramakrishna Paramhans would not have achieved greatness had it not been for his disciple Vivekananda. Mother was known because of Shri Aurbindo. In the Same way Mahatma's struggle for independence would have been incomplete without Sardar's contribution in uniting small revolutionary movements across the country."

Modi's comments have not gone down well with the Gandhians. "This is like asking what is bigger, the stars or the moon, "said well-known Gandhian Chunibhai Vaidya. "These statements have only one aim - to foist Sardar Patel over the Mahatma - because they don't know that it was the mahatma who inspired Sardar to join the freedom movement. In fact the saffron brigade does not have any heroes which is making them project Bhagat Singh, Subhashchandra Bose and Swami Vivekananda as their icons."

President of the Gandhi Parivar Trust Kanu Brahmbhatt said, "During times of trouble, Sardar always turned to Gandhi for advice. Today's leaders are trying to marginalizes Gandhi and glorify the Sardar. In reality it is not possible to isolate Sardar from Gandhi."

Modi even accused the Congress of undermining Sardar's role in the freedom struggle, which was visible form the delay in conferring the title of 'Bharat Ratna' to the leader.

"It is an irony that Rajiv Gandhi was conferred the title even before the Sardar. It is a pity that they (Congress) took so long to decide. Even today if an average Gujarati is asked about the great leader he would always say that things would have been different had Sardar become the country's first prime minister."

L to R - Mrs. Louise Patel (W/o Bipenbhai Patel), Mrs. Sheela Ghatate, Shri Tarak Patel (S/o Shri Ashokbhai Patel) and Shri B.M.Vyas - M.D. GCMMF, Anand has grace the function.

Taking a dig at the Congress, Modi said the party was obsessed with a particular lineage of leaders and that they lacked progressive leaders like Sardar. "I have great respect for Sardar Patel's family who despite being descendants of a great leader did not take advantage of his position to enter politics. However, there are a few political fixtures in the country who have stayed put for the past four generations."

Deputy Prime Minister Advani also spoke at the function. "Nobody talks of Vithalbhai , Sardar Patel's elder brother who had played a principle role in the freedom struggle of the country." He said. "He was appointed as the country's first speaker to the Central Legislative Assembly. He was a great philosopher and mentor of Sardar."

The belongings of Sardar Patel that his grandson donated to the trust are a tea set gifted to Sardar Patel by Lord Mountbatten, a 'charkha' and a shawl which the Sardar wore while he signed the final draft of the Constitution of India.

Indian Express, Saturday - November1, 2003

'Bapu was incomplete without Sardar Patel'

Express News Service - Vadodara, October31 The occasion was to hand over some of the belongings of the Iron Man to the Sardar Patel Memorial Trust. But Chief Minister Narendra Modi chose the occasion to take a dig at the Nehru Gandhi family. Both Modi and Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani harped on the line that "Mahatma Gandhi was incomplete without Sardar Patel". Shri Bipinbhai Patel - Grandson of Sardar Patel Handing over the Spinning Wheel (Charkha), belonging of Sardar Patel Both Modi and Advani addressed a gathering at Karamsad, wheresome of the possessions of Sardar Patel were handed over to the trust. Also handed over was the Bharat Ratna awarded to Sardar Patel. Modi remarked that despite being a nationally tall figure, Sardar Patel had ensured that none of his family members jumped into the political arena to exploit his political deeds unlike the Nehru-Gandhi family. "This illustrious leader had not only shown a new way to the country but had also seen to it that the unity and integrity of the country was maintained, still none of his family members ever joined politics. But then there is the family of the former prime minister whose fourth generation also does not want to give up." Modi said that it took so many years to recognize the efforts of Sardar Patel to award him with the Bharat Ratna posthumously in 1991. On the contrary, the CM said, the former governments did not take time to award Rajiv Gandhi with the same award. "The greatness and the leadership qualities of the man are reflected when even today at a time of any crisis people say that things would have been different if Patel were there. "said Modi." If Sardar Patel was not there, who would have taken Gandhi's ideologies to the villages?" asked Modi. The CM said that to mark the birth anniversary of the Iron Man, the State government would begin gram sabhas from Friday and they would continue till December 6, which is the birth anniversary of Dr B R Ambedkar.

The Gujarat Age, Saturday - November1, 2003

Modi, Advani harp on pet theme: Sardar as PM

Karamsad, (Anand District) Oct 31: Harping on the age old theme, deputy prime minister Lal Krishana Advani and chief minister Narendra Modi said on Friday that people of this nation still regret that Sardar Patel was not made the first Prime Minister of India. Mr. Advani and Mr.Modi were addressing a meeting at Karamsad, the native place of Sardar Patel on his 129th birth anniversary. "The governments of India post-independent had committed grave injustice to Sardar Patel by ignoring him until 1991 to bestow a Bharat Ratna. Tea-set given by Lord Mount batten to Sardar Patel However, his stature was greater then what the award represents. This calculated indifference to wards Sardar Patel's contribution to India's independence is indeed a sad reality," he added. Recalling Sardar Patel feat of integrating the princely states, the deputy prime minister said "India could have been divided in many more states after the independence as the British government had made many states independent. Those stated could be united with India only due to diplomatic finesse and patriotism of Sardar Patel." In the same vein, Mr. Modi said " still the people of India remember Sardar Patel and even the masses say " If only Sardar Patel was alive today and if he had had been the first Prime Minister of India." Because the people have full faith in him" "It speaks about the humbleness of Sardar Patel's family who never attempted to gain political mileage out of Sardar 's stature unlike the kin of the Gandhi family whose fourth generation is still exploiting the privileges, "Mr. Modi remarked. "The contribution of Sardar Patel was immense in unifying and integrating the nation. The way Ram Krishana Parmahansa would have been incomplete without Swami Vivekanand and Aurbindo without Mother, similarly mahatma Gandhi would have been incomplete without Sardar Patel, " Mr. Modi said. Sardar Patel was award the Bharat Ratna posthumously in 1991 to his grandson Bipin Patel. Mr. Bipin Patel on Friday handed over the award and some belongings of Sardar Patel to the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and Veer Vithalbhai Patel Memorial Trust at Karamsad on Friday. President of Sardar Patel Trust Mr. Ashok Patel said, " It is our great privilege and the award will be exhibited in this trust memorial building to the visitors." Along with the award, Mr. Bipin patel also handed over a spinning wheel a shawl and a tea-set gifted to Sardar Patel by the last governor general of India, Lard Mountbeten. The shawl was used by Sardar Patel while singing the Constitution of India in 1947. Ms. Loui, wife of Bipin Patel, informed." Three more such articles including, one breakfast set, spinning wheel and some pictures belonging to Sardar Patel would be handed over to the trust soon."

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