New Delhi— Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday alleged that India’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru wanted to build the Babri Masjid in Ayodhya using public money, a proposal he claimed was stopped by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. Speaking at Sadhli village near Vadodara during the Gujarat government’s ‘Unity March’ commemorating Patel’s 150th birth anniversary, Singh praised the Iron Man of India as a leader who upheld true secularism without appeasement.
Singh said Nehru’s proposal to fund the Babri Masjid was firmly opposed by Patel, who insisted that no government money should be used for such purposes. He cited Patel’s stand on the restoration of the Somnath Temple, saying the project used only public donations and not a single rupee from the government. He added that the Ram Temple in Ayodhya was also funded entirely by people’s contributions, which he described as “real secularism”.
The defence minister further claimed that Nehru suggested redirecting funds collected by citizens for Patel’s memorial towards building wells and roads, calling it an attempt to diminish Patel’s legacy. Singh asserted that while Nehru awarded himself the Bharat Ratna, Patel was not honoured at that time, and it was Prime Minister Narendra Modi who later restored Patel’s rightful place by building the Statue of Unity.
Singh also recounted events from 1946, stating that Patel withdrew his nomination for Congress president at Mahatma Gandhi’s request, allowing Nehru to assume the position. Despite ideological differences, Patel worked alongside Nehru because he had promised Gandhi he would do so, Singh said.
Addressing historical issues, Singh argued that Patel’s approach to Kashmir, if accepted at the time of the region’s merger, could have prevented the prolonged conflict. He praised the Modi government for upholding Patel’s principles, highlighting Operation Sindoor and the abrogation of Article 370 as examples of strong national leadership.
He said India has sent a clear message that it seeks peace but will respond firmly to provocation, and that the country is rapidly moving toward becoming a major global economic and strategic power.
The Unity March began on November 26 from Karamsad, Sardar Patel’s birthplace in Anand district, and will conclude at the Statue of Unity on December 6.
