New Delhi, Jan 20 (UNI) Vice-President M Venkaiah Naidu on Sunday said the Statue of Unity is a befitting memorial to ironman Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, whose vision, courage and determination led to the integration of 565 princely states and paved the way for building a modern India.
Speaking after visiting the 182-metre tall statue at Kevadia in Gujarat, the Vice-President said, "My heart is filled with emotions and pride. Now we have a great structure that symbolises the great legacy of Sardar Patel."
Mr Naidu on the occasion also lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi for taking up the initiative to build the Statue of Unity saying he had always felt that due recognition was not given to Sardar Patel in the past.
The visit gave him a feeling of ‘completeness’ and a sense of ‘unity of mind and soul’.
The splendid statue represents the vision and resolve of Sardar Patel towards achieving political integration of a ‘Unified India’. He said the historic statue stands as a reminder of the struggles the Sardar had undergone in unifying India.
He said the the 'Statue of Unity' would create greater awareness among the people on Sardar Patel's monumental contribution to nation-building. Given its significance, the amount spent on erecting the statue was a "priceless investment".
Mr Naidu added that all Indians, particularly the youth should visit the statue to draw inspiration and know the history. It was the responsibility of every citizen who owes allegiance to the Constitution of India to do everything to uphold the unity of the country.
Talking about the humble beginnings of Patel who hailed from a farmer’s family, the Vice-President said Patel with his hallmark qualities such as determination, hardwork and resolve led several peasant movements against British, beginning with the farmers agitation during Kheda Satyagrah.
“It was a matter of pride for all of us that a Farmer was the architect of unified modern India,” he said, adding that it was a great achievement that the country won the freedom from colonial rulers after a long and hard fought freedom struggle under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi.
It is indeed a matter of pride for Gujarat that both the architect of India’s freedom and architect of a unified India hailed from this State, he said.
The Vice-President said the people of India would forever remain grateful to Sardar Patel for consolidating India with a steely resolve. For this one act of courage and determination Sardar Patel is rightly called the Iron Man of India.
UNI SW ADG 1641