While the RSS’s affinity for Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel is not newfound, though often misplaced, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has taken it to another level. Almost 67 years after his death, Sardar Patel finds relevance not just in the Ekta Divas run or a Rs-3000-crore giant modular statue which is being built in China. With the Gujarat poll bugle having just sounded, the Prime Minister is banking on the legacy of a lifelong Congressman to ameliorate the Patidar Patel’s disaffection with the ruling BJP.

Possibly Modi is oblivious of the fact that Patel was scathing in his criticism of RSS following the assassination of Gandhi, that he was instrumental behind banning it and lifting it a year and a half later with a rider that the Sangh would not take part in any political activity. Of course, the RSS would defy it after just a year.

He is also possibly not aware of the fact that Sardar Patel had accepted the idea of Partition towards the end of 1946 itself. Jawaharlal Nehru and Abul Kalam Azad were staunchly against the idea then. It would be another six months before Nehru was resigned to accept Partition.

He must not be aware of Patel’s words for RSS in 1949: “Change your plans, give up secrecy, eschew communal conflict, respect the Constitution of India, show your loyalty to the Flag and make us believe that we can trust your words. To say one thing and to do another is a game which will not do.”

History is also witness to numerous instances where Nehru and Patel collaborated in crucial times as they wanted their composite vision of India not to get blurred.

However, the exigencies of the electoral situation in Gujarat far outweigh historical realities. Here’s how Twitter users reacted to the great leader’s birth anniversary: