PM Modi and other leaders pay homage to Sardar Patel on his death anniversary

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other leaders on Wednesday paid tributes to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on his 71st death anniversary.

Sardar Patel passed away in 1950 in Mumbai (then Bombay) on December 15.

“Remembering Sardar Patel on his Punya Tithi. India will always be grateful to him for his monumental service, his administrative skills and the untiring efforts to unite our nation,” PM said in a tweet.

Union Home Minister Amit shah also paid tributes to Sardar Patel.

In a tweet he said, “Every moment in the life of Iron Man Sardar Patel, the wonderful architect of unity and integrity of the country who resides in the heart of every Indian, was dedicated to awakening the spirit of one nation in India. His thoughts will always guide the country. Kotishah salutation at the feet of such a great Yugpurush and national pride.

Remembering Patel, Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said, "his courageous efforts towards uniting India into one strong entity to motivate millions across the country".

“Tributes to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on his punyatithi. His courageous efforts towards uniting India into one strong entity continue to motivate millions across India. He also provided remarkable leadership to India’s freedom movement,” he tweeted.

BJP president JP Nadda in his message said, “Bharat Ratna, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel ji, with his effort, he united hundreds of princely states. Every Indian will always be indebted to his contribution in the making of India. Tributes to Iron Man Sardar Sahab on his death anniversary".

Union Minister Hardeep Puri called Sardar Patel “a leading stalwart of India’s freedom movement”.

“I pay homage to the iron willed architect & unifier of independent India, Bharat Ratna Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Ji on his death anniversary. The Iron Man was a leading stalwart of India’s freedom movement who later guided India's integration into a modern nation,” he said in a tweet.

Patel, popularly known as the ‘Iron Man of India’, was a leader of the Congress party, and the first home minister and deputy prime minister of India.

His major contribution was the accession of the princely states into the Union of India after independence from the British. (UNI)