Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh today affirmed that Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel is an inspiration for every political leader. Addressing a Sardar Gatha programme at Sadli village in Vadodara, the Minister said that when political leadership was losing credibility among people; the current government accepted the challenge and successfully regained the people’s faith by following Sardar Patel’s values. The Defence Minister credited Sardar Patel as the architect of united India and for achieving the uphill task of integrating the Princely states. He asserted that while some parties attempted to diminish Sardar Patel’s contribution to history, Prime Minister Narendra Modi decided to take forward Sardar’s legacy of thought to the next generations by celebrating his 150th birth anniversary.
The Minister highlighted Sardar Patel’s core value of ‘Nation First’ and recalled that it was under his leadership that the concept of ‘Purna Swaraj’, Complete Self-Rule was first defined. The Minister expressed confidence that Sardar Patel’s values and inspiration will continue to bind India together and help achieve the dream of Viksit Bharat. The National Padyatra, which began from Karamsad on November 26, 2025,, reached Sadli village in Vadodara district on its seventh day. The padyatra is set to conclude at the Statue of Unity on December 6, 2025.
