Sardar Patel&#39;s secularism was no different from Nehru&#39;s ... in word and in spirit

Sardar Patel's secularism was no different from Nehru's ... in word and in spirit

At time when Jawaharlal Nehru is a favourite whipping boy of the powers-that-be, with efforts being made to highlight alleged differences he had with Sardar Patel, former Gujarat IPS officer Vinod Mall, who retired as a DGP-level officer of the Gujarat Government, and currently is professor at the Ahmedabad University, has shared a Facebook post from the FB page called Nehruvian which suggests there was no difference between the two top freedom fighters. Read on:

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"Do not led away that Hinduism is in danger. Hinduism can never be in danger in India. Have we not produced men of religion in the past who spread religion and culture all over India? What did Shankracharya do? When he died, how young he was! But did he raise the cry that Hinduism was in danger? Religion is a matter between man and his Maker. If you forget your citizenship and talk of religion, it is a cloak.
"Therefore, when I hear some people talking about Hinduism in danger, I feel that they are going a wrong way. Do not indulge in scare mongering for selfish ends . Do not employ wrong methods for catching votes or forming the parties. It is a very dangerous game. After all, we too want to serve our own people.
"Let us build our strength and reputation from this Union which in India's map is posited like the feet of Mother India. If the legs are shaky, the whole edifice will topple. Let other Unions emulate your example. I wish you godspeed and good administration."

-- Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.
This is Patel's noteworthy speech delivered at Travancore in July 1949. It highlights his secularism and shows that his secularism was not different from Jawaharlal Nehru's secularism in word and spirit.
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Reference: "Nehru-Patel: Agreement with Differences - Select Documents and Correspondences 1933-1950", Edited by Neerja Singh, page number 33-34

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