Thankful to PM Modi for the Statue of Unity: Veteran Congress Leader Who Contested Against Him in 2007

Synopsis

Dinsha Patel, a senior Congress leader, praised PM Modi for his role in building the Statue of Unity, calling it a significant tribute to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. Patel highlighted the importance of recognizing contributions to India's unity, while also addressing internal party disputes.

Key Takeaways

Dinsha Patel commended PM Modi for the Statue of Unity.
He emphasized the significance of honoring Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.
Patel acknowledged a past mistake by Congress in recognizing Patel's contributions.
He disagreed with Rahul Gandhi's views on party members' affiliations.
Collaboration between parties for social welfare is beneficial.

Gandhinagar, March 15 (NationPress) Dinsha Patel, a former Union Minister and seasoned Congress politician from Gujarat, expressed his heartfelt appreciation on Saturday for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision and execution in constructing the Statue of Unity in the state. He remarked that this monumental statue serves as a significant tribute to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, who was the inaugural Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister of India.

In a special conversation with IANS, the ex-Union Minister commended PM Modi's remarkable efforts to bring to life the world's tallest statue dedicated to the 'Iron Man of India'.

"We hold a deep respect, express our gratitude, and bow in reverence to him for his creation of the Statue of Unity... He is a friend, and we share a cordial relationship. He communicates respectfully with me," Patel stated.

"We recognize all the positive contributions made by PM Narendra Modi, and anything commendable should be acknowledged as such," he further mentioned.

Notably, Dinsha Patel was the Congress candidate who contested against the then Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi in the 2007 Assembly elections. He stood against PM Modi in the Maninagar constituency but was defeated by over 86,000 votes.

This octogenarian leader has served as a Union Minister in the Congress-led UPA governments multiple times and was also a Cabinet Minister in UPA-II.

Dinsha Patel additionally conceded that it was a 'misstep' on the Congress's part to overlook and fail to honor the contributions of Vallabhbhai Patel in maintaining India's unity, a recognition that has been duly given by the BJP.

He also voiced strong disagreement with Rahul Gandhi's claims, where Gandhi accused a significant number of party members in Gujarat Congress of functioning as the 'B-team' of BJP, advocating for a cleansing of the party from 'undesirable elements'.

"I cannot concur with him since representatives from both parties often collaborate and engage with each other for various social welfare initiatives. For instance, when it comes to launching a dairy outlet or a bank, they work together towards achieving these goals," Patel replied, dismissing Rahul Gandhi's assertion.