Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel's ironclad will unite India: Rahul Gandhi

New Delhi: The Congress on Monday paid tributes to India's first home minister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on his birth anniversary, with former party chief Rahul Gandhi saying the most fitting tribute to him would be to keep the flame of unity he ignited shining brighter than ever.

Patel is considered the chief architect of integration of the erstwhile princely states with the Union of India.

"Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel's ironclad will united India. The most fitting tribute to him would be to keep the flame of unity he ignited shining brighter than ever," Gandhi said in a tweet.

Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s ironclad will united India🇮🇳

The most fitting tribute to him would be to keep the flame of unity he ignited shining brighter than ever. pic.twitter.com/8oZQ3ZmS0h

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) October 31, 2022

The Congress, from its official Twitter handle, said, "We pay our heartfelt tributes to the Iron Man of India, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, on his birth anniversary. It was for his iron will that the nation was weaved into a union."

We pay our heartfelt tributes to the Iron Man of India, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, on his birth anniversary. It was for his iron will that the nation was weaved into a union.
A great son of Bharat Mata, he continues to inspire us to fight the forces of hate & division. pic.twitter.com/T0aaO93Eo8

— Congress (@INCIndia) October 30, 2022

"A great son of Bharat Mata, he continues to inspire us to fight the forces of hate & division," the party said.

Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh hailed Patel on his 147th birth anniversary.

"In October 2011, I was privileged to deliver the Sardar Patel Memorial lecture in which I presented a side of his that is not very well know - his wit and humour," Ramesh tweeted.

Today is the 147th Birth Anniversary of the indomitable Sardar Patel. In Oct 2011, I was privileged to deliver the Sardar Patel Memorial lecture in which I presented a side of his that is not very well known — his wit and humour. Here is the lecture.https://t.co/5nYS5bWwq3

1/2

— Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) October 31, 2022

"Irrespective of whatever the Distorians peddle, Patel and Nehru former an unique jugalbandhi for almost 30 years that shaped modern India," he said and shared a photograph of Nehru and Patel together.