Guj: Sardar Patel statue sparks Congress-BJP spat

Ahmedabad, Oct 9: Ahead of the polls for civic bodies in Gujarat, a spat has broken out between Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over a proposed Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel statue.

Gujarat Chief Minister on Wednesday, Oct 6 unveiled the plans of erecting the world's tallest statue beside the Narmada dam.

However, the plans did not fit in well with the Congress, which on Thursday, Oct 8 sent a letter to the Election Commission protesting against the 182-metre tall statue citing that it was in violation of code of conduct ahead of polling to the six municipal corporations.

The Congress protested to the fact that the unveiled statue project is under the name of Bharatiya Janata Party instead of the Gujarat government.

Gujarat Congress President Siddharth Patel contended that the BJP was only doing this to garner votes and that it was an "insult" to Sardar Patel.

Responding to Congress' opposition to the state in an election rally, Narendra Modi said, "When I am trying to honour Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, the Congress is creating roadblocks in it."

Arguing that for Congress leaders there is only one family and all other leaders are ignored, Modi questioned, "Is this not an insult of Sardar Patel?"

The 182-feet tall statue of Sardar Patel dubbed 'Statue of Unity' will be double the height of Statue of Liberty. The proposed site for erection is at Sadhu Bet, an island on River Narmada.

OneIndia News