PM reduced persona of Sardar Patel to mere 182 mts
Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel, his role in pre and post-independent India is the most significant among all. He always remained close to Gandhiji and involved himself in the freedom struggle. He was a great support to the first prime minister of India, Jawaharlal Nehru. He was the first deputy PM of India and the home minister. He brought together the whole of India, under the leadership of Nehru. He coerced many provinces including the Mysore state, which hesitated to join the republic of India. At times of need, he even used Army to achieve the goal. He never thought just geography would bring a country together. He knew unless the states bond with each other on all fronts including emotional coming-together, it would be impossible to assume India would even exist in its form. Hence, even when provinces came together, he never interfered with the cultural identity of each segment. He allowed them to thrive as is. And the provinces could retain their local languages without being forced to speak a single language. Patel was the same man who wanted RSS banned for having plotted to disturb the integrity of the nation.
He always had ‘solidarity’ and ‘unity’ of the country. He was deeply disturbed by the celebrations that erupted in some parts of the country by RSS members, who distributed sweets over the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi. He had written to Golvalkar expressing anxiety over RSS and its effect on integrity of India. Eventually, RSS had to get the ban lifted after promising in writing, that the organization would never indulge in political activities and would function only as a cultural outfit. But the RSS broke their promise. Though Patel did not live for long after independence, his contribution to unified India is unmatched. For all this, Indians have to be indebted to this towering personality who was the visionary of unified India. He has to be remembered not just one day, but every day by all Indians.To remember his work is to preserve the unity of the country and oppose the divisive forces that are out to split the nation. Patel brought the country together despite differences in caste, religion, creed and class. But today, the some forces are out to divide the country on the same lines that Patel unified them on.
Today, the country is feeling the difference between North and South. There are instances of the North Indians are launching cultural assaults on the South. Hindi imposition has led to widespread anger among people. Along with this, RSS that was to be banned by Patel, is shining in its glory. It has succeeded in dividing the country based on faith. If Patel was alive today, he would not have tolerated this even for a moment and would have banned RSS for good. He would have hated Bajrang Dal, and Sangh Parivar factions taking to streets creating unrest. The same forces that he opposed today are reigning supreme in the country. At a time like this, PM Modi has spent Rs 3000 cr on erecting the world’s largest statue in India, of Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel. He has called it the statue of unity. In his attempt to use this towering personality to his political benefit, he has reduced the persona of Sardar Patel to nothing but dust.
Nehru and Patel dreamt of an independent India with great vision. They wanted accomplished universities, organisations dedicated to science, and massive dams that could feed the hunger of India both metaphorically and knowledge-wise. If the country stands in a position of power today, it is the contribution of these two leaders that shaped the modern India. But as if to raze all their dreams, Modi has spent Rs 3000 crore at the cost of keeping most of the country hungry. He has been advertising about this feat as if it is the most significant aspect to the country as of now. Country’s economy is in doldrums post demonetization. Cottage industries have suffered a jolt. Rupee is losing its value with every progressive day. At a time like this, do we have the resources to spend Rs 3000 for a statue? Can the Modi government is rearing divisive forces in its own backyard, build a statue and create unity per se? Or, are Modi and Sangh Parivar out to mock the unity of Patel through this statue?
India could have set up two IITs or five IIMs with the money spent on the statue. ISRO could have undertaken five Mangalyans with this money. Karnataka has been requesting for farmer loan waiver since many years, only to hear the government’s refusal to do so. 4000 hectares of land could have been irrigated with this money. Or 162 small irrigation schemes could have been fixed, or modernized or even 425 check dams could have been built. All these schemes could have been named after Sardar Patel. The country would have commemorated his name along with providing food and occupation for people, this aiding development. Now, forget helping the farmers, they have been majorly inconvenienced by this statue. Is this not an insult to the personality of Patel? Would his soul not weep at the fact that farmers have been wronged here? This statue has caused major problems to tribals living in 72 villages. 32 villages have been deeply damaged. Rehabilitation is not complete in 19 villages. Amidst all their cries of protest, the statue has been inaugurated. The statue has divided people at its very base. Can this ever unite the country? Factories owe thousands of crores to sugarcane farmers in the area. Experts feel this money could have been used to help farmers on the banks of Narmada river valley.
The government claims the country will earn this money back with tourism. But how does that happen? Do people begin to visit the statue in hoards soon after? If this was the case, this would have been full of statues and countries could earn their money only through such ventures. China is home to the biggest Buddha statue. It is not even listed in the tourism charter of the country. Even if Sardar’s statue attracts people such as Taj Mahal does, it would take at least 150 years for the country to break even. The only country that made money from this statue is China since this contract gave some work to Chinese workers. This statue is a blot on the personality of Sardar Patel. With this, his towering personality has been reduced to a mere 182 meters by PM Narendra Modi.
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World saw valour, courage of Indian armed forces through Operation Sindoor: President
New Delhi (PTI): President Droupadi Murmu on Wednesday said the world saw the valour of Indian armed forces through Operation Sindoor when they destroyed terror camps on the strength of their own resources and asserted that any terror act will be responded with decisive action.
"India has proved that power can be used with responsibility and wisdom. The world has seen the valour and courage of Indian armed forces through Operation Sindoor," Murmu said in her address to both Houses of Parliament, marking the beginning of the Budget Session.
"Our nation, on the strength of our own resources, destroyed terror camps. My government sent a message that any act of terror will be responded to with resolute and decisive action," the President said, amid thumping of desks by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other parliamentarians.
Murmu said the suspension of the Indus Water Treaty was part of India's fight against terror.
"We are also working on Mission Sudarshan Chakra to further strengthen national security," the President said, adding that security forces have also taken decisive action against Maoist terror.
Following Operation Sindoor, she said, the trust on Indian defence platforms has increased.
Murmu further said her government was committed to social justice in the country.
In the third term of the government, she said, work is being done to further empower the poor, and social security benefits are available to nearly 95 crore citizens now.
"My government is committed to true social justice," she said, adding that 25 crore Indians moved out of poverty in the last 10 years.
The President also said the government has been successful in tackling corruption and scams, and ensuring proper use of public funds.
"For India, the end of the first 25 years of this century has been filled with several successes, proud achievements and extraordinary experiences. In the last 10-11 years, India has strengthened its foundation in every sector," she said.
Lauding India's celebration of the 350th martyrdom day of the ninth Sikh guru, Guru Tegh Bahadur, and the country's tribute to revered tribal leader and freedom fighter Birsa Munda on his 150th birth anniversary, Murmu said, "when the country remembers the contribution of its ancestors, the new generation gets inspiration, which further speeds up our journey towards Viksit Bharat (Developed India)."
"The country celebrated the 350th Shaheedi Diwas of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji. During the 150th birth anniversary of Birsa Munda, the entire country paid him tribute and remembered his contribution to the tribal community," the President said.
"The events related to the 150th birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel further strengthened the sense of Ek Bharat, Shresht Bharat (One India, Best India). The entire country became witness to how Bharat Ratna Bhupen Hazarika's birth anniversary celebrations filled the country with music and a sense of unity," Murmu said.
The President's mention of the Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) scheme was met with loud protests from the Opposition benches.
Murmu said the VB-G RAM G initiative would provide guarantee for 125 days of work, would stop corruption and leakages, and provide a new impetus to rural development.
The Opposition members raised slogans demanding its rollback, even as the treasury benches thumped their desk in support of the scheme.
The President had to take a brief pause amid opposition cries of "vapas lo" (roll back) against the Act that replaced the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).
The Opposition parties have been demanding withdrawal of the VB-G RAM G Act and restoration of MGNREGA as a rights-based law in its original form, the right to work and the authority of panchayats.
The government has, meanwhile, claimed that the new Act will further strengthen the guarantee for rural employment.
