We never ignored Sardar Patel's contribution: Sheila Dikshit on PM Modi's remarks

Senior Congress leader and former Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dixit on Tuesday reacted to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's remarks and said the party never ignored Sardar Patel's contribution.

"Nothing like that, this is wrong. We have never ignored Sardar Patel's contribution," she said.

Flagging off a run to commemorate the 142nd birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel in Delhi, Modi said, "We salute Sardar Patel on his Jayanti. His momentous service and monumental contribution to India can never be forgotten."

In a veiled attack on Congress, he said, "People tried to ensure the contribution of Sardar Patel is forgotten. But the youth of India respects him and his contribution towards the building of our nation." 

The 'Run for Unity', which began from the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium, saw the participation of a large number of people, including sports personalities like Sardar Singh, Deepa Karmakar, Suresh Raina and Karnam Malleswari.

Earlier, President Ram Nath Kovind, Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu, Prime Minister, and Home Minister Rajnath Singh visited Patel's statue located at the Parliament street and offered floral tributes.

The central government observes October 31 all over the country as a day of a special occasion to foster and reinforce the government's dedication to preserve and strengthen unity, integrity and security of the nation by celebrating it as a 'Rashtriya Ekta Diwas' to commemorate the birth anniversary of Sardar Patel.