Narendra Modi: Mahatma Gandhi seems incomplete without Sardar Patel

New Delhi, Oct 31: Prime Minister

on Friday paid floral tributes at the statue of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on his birth anniversary.

Modi, who was dressed in a white kurta pyjama with a red coloured shawl draped on his left shoulder, was accompanied by Defence and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, Urban Development Minister Venkaiah Naidu, Delhi Lt. Governor Najeeb Jung and others.

The leaders offered rose petals in front of a huge portrait of Sardar Patel at Patel Chowk near Parliament House here.

A 'Run for Unity' and pledge taking will mark India's first home minister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel's birth anniversary Oct 31, being observed as 'Rashtriya Ekta Diwas'.

Narendra Modi said Sardar Patel's life was a journey of "service to the motherland" and he was "truly the architect of modern India".

"Sardar Patel's life is a journey of deep-rooted courage, dedication & service to the Motherland. He is truly the architect of Modern India," Modi tweeted on the occasion of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel's birth anniversary

Speaking at the event, Modi said: "Mahatma Gandhi seemed incomplete without Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel as he played an integral role in the freedom struggle launched by the father of the nation."

"Sardar Patel joined Mahatma Gandhi in the integration of farmers in the freedom struggle. He (Patel) played an integral role in the Dandi yatra," Modi said while addressing the nation on the birth anniversary of Sardar Patel being observed as 'Rashtriya Ekta Diwas'.

"Mahatma Gandhi seems incomplete without Sardar Patel. It was a unique partnership that strengthened the struggle for independence," he added.

"The country which forgets history can never create history, so for a country filled with aspirations, a country whose youth has dream, we should not forget our personalities of history. Country should not divide history and legacy according to our ideologies," he said.

IANS