Khatana addresses Sardar@150 Padayatra, lauds PM Modi for fulfilling Sardar Patel’s vision

SRINAGAR: The Sardar@150 Padayatra, organized by My Bharat Officials and NSS Volunteers to commemorate the 150th birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, reached the University of Kashmir today. The event witnessed enthusiastic participation from students, faculty members, and BJP karyakartas. Held in front of the Department of History near Gandhi Bhawan, it celebrated the legacy of India’s Iron Man who united over 560 princely states into one strong and sovereign nation.

Addressing the gathering, BJP Senior Leader and Rajya Sabha MP Gulam Ali Khatana said that Sardar Patel’s decisive leadership, courage, and vision for a united India remain unmatched in the country’s history. He recalled that while Patel worked tirelessly for the complete integration of the nation, his efforts were weakened by the indecisive and short-sighted policies of the then Congress leadership under Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, especially concerning Jammu & Kashmir.

“Had Sardar Patel been allowed to handle the Kashmir issue, the situation would have been very different. His clarity, firmness, and commitment to national unity could have ensured complete integration much earlier,” Khatana remarked.He further stated that under the bold and visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Sardar Patel’s dream of a fully integrated India has finally been realized through the historic abrogation of Article 370, which brought Jammu & Kashmir into the national mainstream.

“Prime Minister Modi has completed Patel’s unfinished mission by removing the barriers that separated Jammu & Kashmir from the rest of India. This decisive step has restored equality, strengthened national unity, and reaffirmed the spirit of Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat,” he said.Khatana also launched a strong attack on the National Conference (NC), Congress, and PDP, saying these parties must explain why they created a double mindset among the people of Jammu & Kashmir for the last 70 years. “Instead of working for the welfare of the people, these parties misled generations with false narratives and confusion. After the removal of Article 370, this double standard has ended, and the people now feel a true sense of belonging with the rest of the country,” he said.

He added that the NC was repeatedly given the mandate to govern and address people’s issues, but instead of solving their problems, they chose to create fake controversies and divide communities for political gain. “These parties did not work for development, employment, or empowerment. They thrived on emotional politics, but that era is now over under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi,” Khatana asserted.Khatana emphasized that the Sardar@150 campaign is not just a commemoration but a people’s movement to revive the values of unity, integrity, and national pride that Sardar Patel embodied.

He urged the youth to draw inspiration from Patel’s life and contribute to building a stronger, more united, and progressive India.The Padayatra concluded with patriotic chants and a collective pledge to uphold Sardar Patel’s ideals of unity and strength, echoing across the Kashmir University campus — a fitting tribute to the Iron Man of India.