"Congress didn't do anything like this for Sardar Patel. The statue is a befitting tribute to his contribution to the nation," PTI quoted Dhirubhai Patel, grandson of Sardar's elder brother Somabhai Patel, as saying. 91-year-old Dhirubhai, who lives in Vadodara with his family, was a special invitee to the unveiling ceremony of Sardar Patel's 182-metre statue on the occasion of the leader's 143rd birth anniversary. 35 other members of Vallabhbhai Patel's extended family also attended the event.
Dhirubhai's son-in-law Shailesh Patel, a Mumbai-based businessman, said: This (statue) was long overdue. They should have done it much earlier. The statue will spread the message of the strength of unity and of the role played by Sardar to unite the nation".
Another senior member of the family, Bhupendra Patel, said the statue would remind the younger generation about contributions made by Sardar. "They will draw inspiration from Sardar Patel," he said. Bhupendra is 80-year-old and lives in Vallabh Vidyanagar in Anand district. He, however, refused to comment when asked whether the previous governments did little for Sardar as being claimed by leaders of the ruling BJP.
Another special invitee to the ceremony, Hasmukh Patel, who's founder-secretary of Sardar Patel Memorial Trust, hailed the construction of the monument as a "good decision". "The younger generation needs to learn from Sardar's life and this statue will be a unique way to do so," he said, adding that the prime minister has "recaptured Sardar's memory in a unique way".
The monument was conceptualised by Modi during his tenure as Gujarat Chief Minister and he had laid the foundation stone for it in 2013. Patel was born in Gujarat's Nadiad on October 31, 1875. He served as the first Deputy Prime Minister and the Home Minister of the country. He is also known as the Iron Man of India.