PoK would be part of India if Sardar Patel had more power over J-K: CM Chouhan

Applauding India’s first home minister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel for his contribution in keeping the nation united, Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on National Unity Day on Monday said Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) would have been a part of India if the ‘Iron Man of India’ had the power to deal with Jammu and Kashmir.

Applauding India’s first home minister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel for his contribution in keeping the nation united, Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on National Unity Day on Monday said Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) would have been a part of India if the ‘Iron Man of India’ had the power to deal with Jammu and Kashmir.

Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan addresses a press conference at his residence in Bhopal on Monday. (PTI)

“Vallabhbhai Patel played an important role in incorporating princely states into the nation. If there is anyone who should be lauded for, it should be Vallabhai Patel. The nation is indebted to him,” Chouhan told reporters here. “If he had the power to deal with Jammu and Kashmir back then, surely PoK would have been part of India today. That is why our government and Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi decided to celebrate his memorial as National Unity Day.”

India is celebrating Rashtriya Ekta Diwas on Monday to mark the occasion of the 141st birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. The theme this year is integration of India.

Prime Minister Modi will lead the nation in paying tribute to the ‘Unifier of India’ at the Patel Statue and later in Parliament.

“Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel worked to bring everyone together; he worked for unity, fought for unity and brought unity among the people. We also have to forget about all our customs and traditions and treat a girl and a boy equally, and we are moving fast,” he said, addressing the nation in the 25th edition of his ‘Mann Ki Baat’ radio programme.

“We should take a positive step towards it and work to promote equality in the society. But on one Sardar’s birthday, history remembers how the Sikhs and ‘sardars’ all over the country faced violence and pain, which is why we all need to learn that we all must unite and work towards unity rather than allow divisiveness to spread,” he added.

Read | Divided India observes Unity and Integration day