On the 71st death anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, several Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders and Union ministers paid tribute to him. Sardar Patel passed away on December 15, 1950, in Mumbai (then Bombay). Sardar Patel is credited with bringing a large number of princely states into the Union of India post-independence.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute to India’s first home minister, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on Twitter.

“Remembering Sardar Patel on his Punya Tithi. India will always be grateful to him for his monumental service, his administrative skills and the untiring efforts to unite our nation,” PM Modi said in a tweet.

Home Minister Amit Shah also paid tribute to the Iron man of Indian.

“Every moment in the life of Iron Man Sardar Patel, the wonderful architect of unity and integrity of the country who resides in the heart of every Indian, was dedicated to awakening the spirit of one nation in India. His thoughts will always guide the country. Kotish vandan at the feet of such a great Yug Purush and national pride.” Amit Shah Tweeted in Hindi.

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Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said that Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel “provided remarkable leadership to India’s freedom movement.”

“Tributes to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on his Punya tithi. His courageous efforts towards uniting India into one strong entity continue to motivate millions across India. He also provided remarkable leadership to India’s freedom movement,” Defence Minister tweeted.

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Housing Minister Hardeep Puri called Sardar Patel “a leading stalwart of India’s freedom movement”.

“I pay homage to the iron willed architect & unifier of independent India, Bharat Ratna Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Ji on his death anniversary. 

The Iron Man was a leading stalwart of India’s freedom movement who later guided India’s integration into a modern nation,” Hardeep Puri tweeted.

Minister of Road Transport & Highways Nitin Gadkari also paid tribute to Sardar Patel.

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“Humble greetings to Bharat Ratna Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel ji, the architect of national integration and the architect of Navbharat, on his death anniversary. #SardarVallabhbhaiPatel,”  Amit Shah tweeted in Hindi.