PM Modi: Sardar Patel Wanted to Unite Kashmir But Was Stopped by Nehru

Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated that Sardar Patel formulated policies and made decisions that created new history.

At Ekta Nagar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared on Friday that Sardar Patel wanted to integrate the entire Kashmir into India, similar to other princely states, but then Prime Minister Nehru prevented this from happening.

"Sardar Patel believed in creating history through hard work rather than merely writing about it," PM Modi remarked while addressing the gathering following the Rashtriya Ekta Diwas parade near the Statue of Unity in Gujarat's Ekta Nagar.

"Sardar Patel intended to unify all of Kashmir, as he had done with other princely states. However, Nehru ji prevented his wish from being fulfilled. Kashmir was divided, given a separate Constitution and flag - and the nation suffered for decades due to Congress' mistake," PM Modi stated.

The Prime Minister emphasized that the policies and decisions of Sardar Patel created new history.

"After Independence, Sardar Patel accomplished the seemingly impossible task of uniting more than 550 princely states. The concept of One India, Excellent India, was paramount to him," PM Modi said.

"Sardar Patel once stated that his greatest joy came from serving the nation. I want to tell the people of our country that there is no greater source of happiness than dedicating oneself to national service," he added.

Prior to his speech, PM Modi reviewed the National Unity Day parade featuring contingents from police and paramilitary forces.

Women officers led all contingents, including paramilitary forces such as BSF, CISF, ITBP, CRPF and SSB, and police contingents from Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab, Assam, Tripura, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh.

A National Cadet Corps (NCC) contingent also participated in the parade.