Patna: Chief minister Samrat Choudhary on Saturday announced that Bihar govt will install a statue of Bharat Ratna Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, saying it would be the tallest statue of any eminent personality in the state.Addressing the Rashtriya Ekta Diwas Samaroh at Bapu Sabhagar here, Choudhary said, “Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel was a symbol of unity and maker of India, and he did the historic work of uniting the country. Among the statues of great men established in Bihar so far, the largest statue of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Ji will be installed.”The programme was organised by Sajhi Virasat Abhiyan on the occasion of Patel’s birth anniversary. Choudhary paid floral tributes to his portrait.Recalling Patel’s role in nation-building, Choudhary described him as one of India’s strongest home ministers. He said Patel merged more than 560 princely states into India and strengthened the country’s unity and integrity. Patel, he added, performed the historic task of binding India “from Kashmir to Kanyakumari” into one thread. “If Sardar Patel Ji had not been there, the form of India would not have been so vast and unified today,” Choudhary said.The CM said that, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, continuous efforts were being made to make India a developed and economically strong nation by 2047. He said PM Modi and former Bihar CM Nitish Kumar had done important work towards realising Patel’s dreams. “We are engaged in taking forward their development works and fulfilling their dreams in Bihar,” Choudhary said.Health minister Nishant Kumar, son of JD(U) president Nitish Kumar, also addressed the gathering and recalled Patel’s contribution to India’s making.Turning to Nishant, Choudhary said, “We both will work together like ‘brothers’ to take Bihar forward.” The remark carries political weight amid discussions over Nishant’s role since taking charge of the health department.
