Vadodara (Gujarat): Defense Minister Rajnath Singh has made a major statement regarding former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru. He said that Jawaharlal Nehru wanted to build the Babri Masjid with government money, but the then Home Minister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel opposed his idea. He did so because he was a man with a true secular ideology. To mark the 150th birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Mera Yuva (MY) Bharat, under the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, organized the “Ekta March,” which included a “Sardar Sabha” on Tuesday.
Rajnath Singh made these remarks while remembering India’s first Home Minister at the “Sardar Sabha” held in Vadodara, Gujarat. He further stated that Sardar Patel never tried to appease communities, while Nehru had questioned the reconstruction of the Somnath Temple in Gir Somnath district. Rajnath Singh further stated that Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel was truly secular and never believed in appeasement. When Jawaharlal Nehru raised the issue of building the Babri Masjid with public funds, only Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, born in Gujarat, opposed it. He prevented the construction of the Babri Masjid with public funds. The Defense Minister noted that similarities had previously been drawn between the reconstruction of the Gir Somnath Temple, but Patel dismissed the similarities between the two cases, emphasizing that the Somnath Temple was rebuilt with donations rather than government funds.
Addressing the event, Rajnath Singh stated that Nehru had questioned the reconstruction of the Somnath Temple. When questioned, Sardar clarified that the Somnath Temple was a different case; the public had donated 30 lakh rupees, a trust was formed, and not a single penny of government money was used. Drawing parallels with the construction of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, the Defense Minister said that the Ram Temple was also not built with government funds. The entire cost was borne by the people of this country.
On November 25, 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi performed the sacred Hindu ritual of “Dhwaja Arohan” (Flag hoisting) by hoisting a 22-foot religious flag. According to religious tradition, hoisting the flag symbolizes the victory of Dharma over Adharma and is an open invitation to devotees from around the world to participate in the celebration. Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria, Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, Union Minister of State Shobha Karandlaje, and other prominent figures were present at the event.
Paying tribute to Bharat Ratna Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on behalf of the people of his state, the Uttarakhand Chief Minister said that Sardar Patel realized the dream of a unified India through his indomitable will, vision, and unwavering dedication.
