Sardar Patel Deprived of Bharat Ratna for Long, Efforts Made to Erase his Legacy: Amit Shah

New Delhi: Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on Tuesday that efforts were me to erase and undermine Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel's legacy and he was deprived of Bharat Ratna for a long time.

Flagging off a 'Run for Unity', ahe of birth anniversary of Patel, he said it was due to foresightedness and acumen of country's first home minister that over 550 princely states were merged with Union of India and country became united.

He said it was because of Sardar Patel that Lakshweep Islands, Junagarh, Hyderab and all or princely states were merged with India.

"But re were efforts to erase and undermine legacy of Sardar Patel. He was also deprived of Bharat Ratna for a long time," Shah said while dressing participants at Major Dhyan Chand National Stium here.

However, Prime Minister Narendra Modi (when he was chief minister of Gujarat ) h installed tallest statue of Patel in Kevia and honoured him in a befitting manner, he said.

Sardar Patel was bestowed with Bharat Ratna -- country's highest civilian award -- posthumously in 1991, 41 years after his death in 1950.

Shah said people of country are now united and have dedicated mselves to fulfilling prime minister's dream of turning India into a fully developed nation by 2047.

"By 2047, India will be leing country in world in all parameters," he said.

home minister said 'Run for Unity' is normally organised on October 31, birth anniversary of Patel. But this year, it was organised two days ahe as Deepawali is falling on that day, he said.

"Today is Dhanteras and we are organising run on this auspicious occasion," home minister said.

Modi government has been observing October 31 as 'Rashtriya Ekta Diwas' or National Unity Day since 2014 to foster and reinforce its dedication to preserving and strengning unity, integrity and security of nation.

Patel was born on October 31, 1875, at Ni in Gujarat.

As India's first home minister and deputy prime minister, Patel is credited for merger of over 550 princely states into Union of India.

Various programmes, recalling Sardar Patel's contribution to unifying India, are being organised as part of National Unity Day celebrations.

Last week, Shah announced that government would commemorate 150th birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel with a two-year-long nationwide programme from 2024 to 2026 to honour his monumental contribution to country.