Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has asserted that India’s first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, proposed using public funds for the construction of the Babri Masjid. According to Singh, it was Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel who staunchly opposed this move. These remarks were made during a ‘Unity March’ in Gujarat, held to honor Sardar Patel’s 150th birth anniversary. Singh also stated that certain elements have historically attempted to diminish Patel’s significant contributions to the nation. He credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi with re-establishing Patel’s prominent place in Indian history by actively promoting his legacy. Highlighting Patel’s stance on religious sites, Singh recalled the Somnath Temple renovation. He explained that when Nehru expressed reservations about the temple’s restoration, Patel clarified that the renovation funds, amounting to Rs 30 lakh, were entirely from public donations, not government money. Singh drew a parallel to the Ayodhya Ram Temple, emphasizing that its construction was also funded by the public, which he defined as true secularism. The Defence Minister also touched upon Nehru’s Congress presidency, alleging that Patel stepped aside for Nehru in 1946 on Mahatma Gandhi’s counsel after securing majority support.
