Rs1K crore for Sardar Patel statue but crumbs for memorial

In his capacity as the chief minister of Gujarat, Narendra Modi is the ex officio trustee of the Sardar Patel Memorial Trust, Karamsad which was established to perpetuate the great leader's memory.

Yet Modi apparently takes no interest in the functioning of the trust.
In the backdrop of the 135thbirth anniversary of the Iron Man of India which falls on Sunday, members of the trust are raising some pertinent questions about Modi's purported love for Sardar Patel and his professed desire to nurture his legacy.

Why has a chief minister, who announced the construction of a statue of Sardar at the cost of Rs1,000 crore, failed to release a mere Rs1 crore to the trust? This amount was pledged to the Karamsad trust by Modi's predecessor in office, former chief minister Keshubhai Patel. And why has Keshubapa continued to be a trustee against a seat reserved for the chief minister of Gujarat?

"The announcement about the construction of the tallest statue of Sardar on an island in river Narmada was made with the civic elections in mind," says Dinsha Patel, president of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Memorial Society." "But why has there been no action on the simple needs of the trust for the past nine years?"

Dinsha Patel, who is also the Union minister of state for micro, small and medium enterprises, said it was Modi's right to be a member of the trust but he had never shown any initiative. "I have formally, and even informally, reminded him three to four times about the money that was pledged to the trust by the then state's chief minister," Patel said.

"He always says he will release the money but nothing happens after that. I have formally conveyed to him what is required of him as a member of the trust but there has been no response,” Dinsha Patel said.

Another seat on the trust that is to be occupied by a representative of the state government has also been lying vacant for the last six months.

For the record, the SVP Memorial Fund was established in 1964 by Morarji Desai, Balvantrai Mehta, Tribhuvandas Patel and Dahyabhai Patel among others, to keep the memory of Sardar Patel and his elder brother, Veer Vithalbhai Patel, alive. It was hoped that their memory would inspire the younger generation to follow their ideals. The fund, which was also expected to maintain Sardar Patel's ancestral home at Karamsad, was later converted into a trust and is now headed by Dinsha Patel.

According to the trust's constitution, the chief minister of Gujarat is its ex officio member. A source close to the developments said that the reason why the CM was included as an ex officio member of the trust was that the leaders of the time felt that Sardar's legacy needed a special impetus.

"It is ironical - though understandable - that Modi wants to associate himself with Sardar's legacy but wants to do so independently," the source said. "This is something that runs against Sardar's inclusive thinking."

Significantly, Keshubapa continues to be a member of the trust on the records, though he is unable to attend meetings regularly due to ill health. "But he keeps abreast of its activities," Dinsha Patel said. "There is no question of a problem with Keshubapa continuing as a member, but the point is, it is Modi's prerogative, and his establishment has taken no initiative nor raised any objection."

Dinsha Patel said he was very happy that Modi intended to build the tallest statue of Sardar. "But dreaming of something and actually doing it, are two different things," he said.

The Union minister animatedly talks about the renovation work completed by the trust at the ashram in Karamsad with funds given by the UPA government. The renovated ashram is ready for inauguration on Sunday.

"Rs1.8 crore have been poured into his ashram in Karamsad," he said "We have renovated, at the cost of Rs10 lakh, the library where Gandhi and Sardar worked together. A statue worth Rs12.5 lakh has also been installed, while Rs15 lakh have been spent on restoring the pictures and Rs 1.5 crore on completely renovating the building. All this has been done from the one-time grant of Rs 22 crore made by the UPA government last year."

Meanwhile, BJP spokesperson IK Jadeja said, "I'm not aware of the facts. You can take the details from the spokesperson of the state government." Jadeja refused to answer any questions about BJP's lack of interest in the SVP trust, saying he was not aware of the issue. "Ask the government spokesman," he said.

Government spokesman Jaynarayan Vyas, too, said he was not apprised of the situation and refused to say why the government was tight-fisted with the trust. "Only the CM can best answer these questions," he said.