Sardar Patel’s family members have thanked the Prime Minister for giving due recognition to the leader, DNA has reported. They also claimed that the leader who united the country was denied prime minister-ship by Jawaharlal Nehru and Mahatma Gandhi.

“Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru are responsible for not letting Sardar Patel be the Prime Minister of India. If Sardar Patel would be the first PM of India, our nation’s fate would be different,” Dheerubhai Patel the grand-nephew of Sardar Patel said on the occasion.

Further, the family members of Sardar Patel credited the Prime Minister for making the first Home Minister popular at the world stage. “We are happy today, if we put the past aside. It is a proud moment for our family that our great grandfather has got this honour and respect from Narendra Modi,” Sister of Dheerubhai, Urmilaben said.

The 183-metre Statue of Unity was unveiled by PM Narendra Modi on the 143rd anniversary of Sardar Patel. The project has led to a war of words and competition over the legacy of Sardar Patel after the statue was unveiled.

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