‘Was irked at delay in military action in Kashmir’
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Oct 28: Prime Minister Narendra Modi said today that it was timely intervention of Sardar Valabhbhai Patel, which helped to save Jammu and Kashmir from aggression (from Pakistani invaders) and said Patel was irked at the delay in initiating military action to evict the aggressors (from Kashmir). He credited Patel with uniting India after partition.
Modi referred in detail the role of Sardar Patel, whose birth anniversary is being celebrated on October 31 and Infantry Day, which was observed yesterday, to mark landing of first Indian soldier in Jammu and Kashmir to take on intruders from Pakistan.
In his monthly ‘Mann Ki Baat’ edition on All India Radio, Modi quoted late Field Marshal S H F J Manekshaw, the former Army chief, as saying that Patel was “irked” at the delay in initiating military action to evict the aggressors from Kashmir.
“Manekshaw, in an interview, had recalled that as a Colonel then he was part of a meeting where Patel was irked on the delay in sending troops to Kashmir. During the proceedings, Sardar Patel gave him (Manekshaw) a characteristic glance and reiterated that there should be no delay in our Army operation and that a solution should be sought swiftly. And immediately after that, our troops flew to Kashmir….We’ve seen how our Army was successful,” the Prime Minister said.
Referring to the Infantry Day, which is observed every year on October 27, Modi said this was the day when first Indian soldiers had set their foot in Jammu and Kashmir to take on intruders from Pakistan.
He recalled that in January, 1947 the Time magazine had profiled Patel and described him as a person who possessed the capability to unite the country and “heal wounds”.
Mahatma Gandhi, the Prime Minister said, considered Patel as the only one capable of finding a lasting solution to the vexed issue of the States and asked him to act.
“Sardar Patel formulated solutions one by one, weaving the warp and weft of unity on the axis of a single thread. He ensured the merger of all princely States with the Dominion of India. Whether Junagadh, Hyderabad, Travancore, or for that matter the princely States of Rajasthan, if we are able to see a united India now, it was entirely on account of the sagacity and strategic wisdom of Sardar Patel,” Modi said.
He also urged the youth to participate in large numbers in the ‘run for unity’ being organized on October 31 to mark the birth anniversary of Patel.
“If we are able to see a united India now, it was entirely on account of the sagacity and strategic wisdom of Sardar Patel,” he asserted.
He said this year, October 31 will be special as the statue of unity will be dedicated to the nation as a “true tribute” to Sardar Patel
Erected on the banks of the River Narmada in Gujarat, the structure is twice the height of the Statue of Liberty in the US.
“This is the world’s tallest statue. Every Indian will now be proud to see the world’s tallest statue here on Indian soil. Sardar Patel, a true son of the soil will adorn our skies too,” he said.
Modi will be dedicating the statue on coming Wednesday.
He hoped that the statue will become a new tourist destination.
The Prime Minister also paid tributes to late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on her death anniversary, which is also on October 31.
“October 31 also is the death anniversary of our former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. Our respectful tributes to Indira ji too,” he said.
Modi also hailed farmers from Punjab who do not burn stubble in fields and help save the environment.
He said, while the world, especially the West, is discussing environmental protection and trying to find new ways to adopt a balanced lifestyle, India is also facing a similar problem.
“But, for its solution we only have to look inwards, to look into our glorious past and our rich traditions and especially have to understand the lifestyle of our tribal communities,” he said.
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