Patel was secular to core, PM reminds Modi

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today appeared to question Narendra Modi's claim on Sardar Patel's legacy as he said the late leader was secular and liberal, having respect for those having a different ideology.

Singh, while sharing dais with the Gujarat Chief Minister here, underlined that Patel was a Congressman and he was proud to be a member of the same political party he was associated with.

"Sardar Patel was secular to the core. He had a deep faith in the integrity of India. He believed that the whole country was a village and people of all communities here were his relatives and friends," he said at a function to inaugurate a museum on the first Home Minister.

The Prime Minister said it was responsibility of everyone to appropriately make aware the people of the country, particularly the youth, about Patel's contributions.

"(Mahatma) Gandhi, (Jawaharlal) Nehru and Sardar Patel and Maulana Abdul Kalam Azad had a strong faith in the country's unity.

They had secular and liberal approach, sympathetic towards the poor. They were tolerant and respected different ideologies," he said here."All those present here will agree that those were such ideals which are lacking in the country today," he said.

Talking about the relationship between Nehru and Patel, Singh said there has been a mention a number of times about their differences. "However, the two leaders agreed on majority of issues and both agreed with each other's views."

Hailing Patel, Singh said the first Home Minister had brought together 500 provinces to build India.