Ahmedabad:
While laying the foundation stone of 'Statue of Unity', Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said today Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel's dream has come true on his 138th birth anniversary.
He said, "A historic event has taken place on the banks of the Narmada today. This was a dream for many years and many people added new colour to this dream of Sardar Patel."
Talking about Sardar Patel, Modi said, "To associate Sardar Patel with any party would be great injustice. After Chanakya, if there was a Maha Purush who integrated the nation it is Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel."
Taking a dig at PM Manmohan Singh's secular comment, Modi said, "PM said a very right thing. He said- Sardar Patel was truly secular. We also say we need Sardar Patel secularism not votebank secularism."
(Narendra Modi, Manmohan Singh engage in public spat over Sardar Patel's legacy)
He further added, "After years of independence India is still in colonial mindset. Our progress is not possible without peace, unity and communal harmony."
"It is important to do our global positioning. We need to emerge as a strength in the world and there are various ways of doing it. This project will draw world to India."
Modi added, "We want our future to be integrated with history & that is our effort. Our society needs to be conscious of its history and through this statue of unity we want to give a perspective to our future."
BJP stalwart and member of Parliament from Gandhinagar, LK Advani also joined Modi in the foundation laying ceremony. A film on Sardar Patel was also played during the ceremony.
Later, Advani also launched the book, 'Hind ke Sardar', and also a ringtone for the title.
Speaking on the occasion, Advani said, "I am really pleased today to be here. When I first came to Gujarat in 1945, it was under the colonial rule. Sardar Ji played a significant role in India's independence."
He also said that after independence, had it not been for a leader like Sadar Patel, India would have been divided into many, not just two parts.
Besides Modi and Advani, the Speaker of Gujarat Assembly Vajubahi Vala and other senior leaders were also present at the function.
The 182-meter statue to be erected at Sadhubet is 3.32 km far from Sardar Sarovar dam. The statue will be constructed in remembrance and as a tribute to the ‘iron man of India’ and the architect of united India – Sardar Patel.
In a unique approach, a drive was launched on Thursday for collecting discarded iron farm tools from the farmers all over India for the making of the statue.
