Modi digs at PM, says India need Sardar Patel’s secularism

In response to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s praise on ‘secular’ Sardar patel, today Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi said that the PM was right by saying that Sardar patel was secular, however India needs Sardar Patel’s secularism, not ‘vote-bank secularism’.

Hitting out at Manmohan Singh, Narendra Modi also said that leaders belong to the country and not to any party. Earlier PM has referred Sardar Patel as a Congressman.
“By aligning Sardar Patel with one party you are demeaning him,” Gujarat Chief Minister said.

Dubbing the word as Manmohan said that Sardar Patel was “a true secular”, Modi added saying, “We need Sardar Sahab’s secularism, not vote-bank secularism.”
“Secular Patel who united India…had no hesitation rebuilding the Somnath Temple,” he explained.

Modi’s sharp reply to Prime Minister came on Thursday when he unveiled the world’s tallest statue in honour of India’s “iron man” – Vallabhai Patel – on his 138th birth anniversary.

“Will we not honour Bhagat Singh, Chandrashekhar? Are they BJP members? Will we only respect the BJP? For us, the country is bigger than party! It’s unfair to associate Patel with any party,” said Modi.

“We built Mahatma’s temple and memorial. Nobody challenged us that Modi you are from BJP why are you building Gandhi who was from Congress. But now they point out why is Modi honouring Patel who is from Congress,” Modi added.

“Sardar Patel was called ‘loh purush’. How would the country know why he was called that? I want to send a message of unity by building this statue. India’s development is not possible without peace and harmony,” Modi further said.

Earlier this week in front of the PM Modi had said, “Every Indian regrets Sardar Patel did not become the first Prime Minister. Had he been the first Prime Minister, the country’s fate and face would have been completely different.”

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