Avtar Bhat
KATHUA, Oct 16 : Union Minister in PMO with independent charge of Ministry of Science & Techno-logy and Earth Sciences, Dr Jitendra Singh today said had Sardar Patel been given a free hand by then Prime Minister, Pt Jawaharlal Nehru the issue of Pakistan occupied Jammu Kashmir (PoJK) would not have arisen.
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The Union Minister was talking to reporters after flagging off the inaugural ‘Unity March Ek Bharat, Akhand Bharat’ “Padyatra” here today as part of the nationwide initiative honouring the 150th birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, the former Home Minister of India.
Dr Jitendra Singh, while blaming former Prime Minister, Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru said had Nehru given free hand to Patel the issue of PoJK would have not arisen and the history of J&K, and that of India would have been totally different.
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He said, the then PM Jawahar Lal Nehru not allowing his Home Minister Patel to handle J&K the same way as he was handling other princely States of the country led to the creation of PoJK. And when the Indian forces were about to retrieve the part of J&K captured by Pakistan, Nehru without consulting Patel or other Cabinet colleagues, went to the radio and declared unilateral ceasefire, he added.
Hailing Sardar Patel for integrating more than 560 odd princely States into Indian Union, Dr Jitendra Singh stated Patel and Dr Syama Prasad Mookherjee are the most underrated leaders of Independent India. He said it was due to the timely intervention of Sardar Patel that the armed forces were deployed to repel the Tribal raid on Kashmir valley. Otherwise, the city of Srinagar might have also fallen to the Tribal raiders. He said Sardar Patel was the Home Minister post- partition and had the then Prime Minister, Nehru given him the freedom to handle J&K the same way as he was handling other princely States of the country, the history of J&K and indeed that of India would have been different.
Dr Jitendra Singh said Nehru had even tried to stop General Cariappa from action asking him that the weather was not good in Kashmir and had he agreed his (Nehru’s) suggestion the Srinagar would also have gone.
Dr Jitendra Singh said just as Sardar Patel unified a fragmented India, the Unity March will carry forward that spirit so the youth can adopt the ideals of ‘Ek Bharat Akhand Bharat’ and ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat. He said during this journey, awareness will be raised about crucial issues like drug eradication, cleanliness (Swachhata) and promotion of indigenous (Swadeshi) products, aligning with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of a self-reliant and united India.
The Union Minister said that drawing inspiration from Sardar Patel, Prime Minister, Narendra Modi had resolved to carry forward the great leader’s legacy and rekindle the spirit of unity and patriotism among the youth. He said, PM Modi got Statue of Unity built in Kevaria when he was the Gujarat CM, by appealing to all the countrymen across to donate iron for it. He said this Statue is a tribute to the Iron Man of India, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel who unified India after partition.
Like Sardar Patel, Dr Mookherjee is another under-rated leader who represented the spirit of nation first by sacrificing his life for the cause of integrating Jammu & Kashmir with the rest of India, said the Minister.
Sharing details about the Unity March Ek Bharat – Atmanirbhar Bharat, Dr Jitendra Singh said it has begun digitally on October 6, 2025, and is split into two phases: District Level Padyatras (October 31 – November 25, 2025) involving 8–10 km walks in every district, preceded by events like essay competitions, seminars on Sardar Patel’s life, and pledges for a ‘Drug-Free India’ and “Proudly Swadeshi”. The campaign, he added, will culminate with a historic march from Sardar Patel’s birthplace Karamsad to the Statue of Unity, Kevadia on November 26—the Constitution Day, symbolizing the spirit of a united and self-reliant India envisioned by Sardar Patel and carried forward under the leadership of the Prime Minister.
Sardar@150 Unity March is not merely an event, said Dr Jitendra Singh, but a nationwide campaign to awaken the spirit of unity and national pride among the youth. He informed that this initiative marks the 150th birth anniversary celebrations of Patel and aims to connect young citizens with the ideals of national integration and self-reliance. He said that as part of this campaign, youth across the country are actively participating in digital competitions, social media activities and Young Leaders Programme through the MY Bharat Portal, creating a mass movement of awareness and inspiration.
Highlighting the second phase of the campaign, the Minister mentioned that from October 31 to November 25, district-level unity marches will be organized across the region, covering villages and towns of Kathua district. The marches will include yoga and health camps, debates, lectures, and awareness drives on Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan and other youth-oriented initiatives.
Nodal Officer Bhushan Gupta further informed that during these Padyatras, youth from schools, colleges, NCC, NSS, and MY Bharat volunteers will walk together to promote the message of Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat.
Earlier, Dr Jitendra Singh was joined by a large number of students, NCC cadets, public representatives and local people during the March which began from Dream Land Park and culminated in the premises of Government Degree College (GMC). The Sardar@150 Unity March is aimed at awakening the spirit of unity, patriotism, and duty among the youth.
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