The bitter rivalry between the Congress and the BJP over the legacy of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel spilled into the open Tuesday as Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi crossed swords at their first joint public event since Modi was declared the BJP’s prime ministerial candidate.
10 things you should know about when Manomhan and Modi shared the stage
The occasion was the inauguration of a renovated memorial for Patel and Modi was invited as a guest in his capacity as chief minister on a turf controlled largely by the Congress.
Congress hides behind 'burqa' of secularism: Modi
But Modi spared no attempt to make his point.
“Is desh ko hamesha ek gila-shikva rahega, ek dard rahega. Har Hindustani ke dil me ek dard rahega. Kaash Sardar saab hamare pehle pradhan mantri hote, toh aaj desh ki taqdeer bhi alag hoti, desh ki tasveer bhi alag hoti (This country will always have one regret. Every Indian will have this pain in his heart. Had Sardar Patel been our first Prime Minister, then the face and the destiny of the country would have been different),” he said.
Related: PM urges secular forces to unite against Modi
Modi also said Patel is an inspiration to fight Maoism and terrorism and to bring youth who have gone astray back into the mainstream. Modi, who will lay the foundation of the 182 m Statue of Unity two days later at the Sardar Sarovar dam site on the Narmada river, on the birth anniversary of Patel, has been claiming that the Congress has failed to give Patel his due.
The Congress, on the other hand, has been criticising the Modi government saying it had not given any funds for the memorial. The Centre has given Rs 17 crore and Union Mines Minister Dinsha Patel is the president of the memorial.
In his speech, Singh called Patel secular and named Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Patel and Maulana Abul Kalam Azad as some leaders who did India proud.
Singh said that while Nehru and Patel had differences, their points of agreement were far
10 things you should know about when Manomhan and Modi shared the stage
The occasion was the inauguration of a renovated memorial for Patel and Modi was invited as a guest in his capacity as chief minister on a turf controlled largely by the Congress.
Congress hides behind 'burqa' of secularism: Modi
But Modi spared no attempt to make his point.
“Is desh ko hamesha ek gila-shikva rahega, ek dard rahega. Har Hindustani ke dil me ek dard rahega. Kaash Sardar saab hamare pehle pradhan mantri hote, toh aaj desh ki taqdeer bhi alag hoti, desh ki tasveer bhi alag hoti (This country will always have one regret. Every Indian will have this pain in his heart. Had Sardar Patel been our first Prime Minister, then the face and the destiny of the country would have been different),” he said.
Related: PM urges secular forces to unite against Modi
Modi also said Patel is an inspiration to fight Maoism and terrorism and to bring youth who have gone astray back into the mainstream. Modi, who will lay the foundation of the 182 m Statue of Unity two days later at the Sardar Sarovar dam site on the Narmada river, on the birth anniversary of Patel, has been claiming that the Congress has failed to give Patel his due.
The Congress, on the other hand, has been criticising the Modi government saying it had not given any funds for the memorial. The Centre has given Rs 17 crore and Union Mines Minister Dinsha Patel is the president of the memorial.
In his speech, Singh called Patel secular and named Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Patel and Maulana Abul Kalam Azad as some leaders who did India proud.
Singh said that while Nehru and Patel had differences, their points of agreement were far
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