Politics · India · 5 hrs ago
Rajnath Singh says Nehru stopped Patel from integrating Kashmir
Rajnath Singh paid tribute to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel at an event marking Patel’s 151st birth anniversary.
Singh said Patel could have integrated Kashmir as easily as Hyderabad if Jawaharlal Nehru had not intervened.
Patel played a central role in bringing princely states into the newly independent India, including Hyderabad.
Singh described Patel as an architect of India’s political and territorial unity.
He also said Patel’s contributions had been under-recognised, noting that Patel received the Bharat Ratna in 1991, decades after his death.
Singh credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi with renewing public recognition of Patel through memorials and national events.
Defence minister Rajnath Singh said Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel could have integrated Kashmir as easily as Hyderabad if Jawaharlal Nehru had not intervened.
Singh made the remark while paying tribute to Patel on his 151st birth anniversary.
He recalled Patel’s role in Hyderabad’s integration and described him as the architect of India’s political and territorial unity.
Singh also said Patel’s contributions had been historically neglected and noted that he received the Bharat Ratna in 1991.
- Who
- Defence minister Rajnath Singh made the statement about Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and Jawaharlal Nehru.
- What
- Singh said Patel could have integrated Kashmir as easily as Hyderabad if Nehru had not intervened.
- When
- Saturday, on Patel’s 151st birth anniversary. The article was published on October 31, 2026.
- Where
- New Delhi.
- Why
- Singh was paying tribute to Patel and recalling his role in India’s political and territorial unity.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Patel withdrew his candidature in the Congress presidential election in deference to Mahatma Gandhi’s wishes, Singh recalled.
Patel’s birth centenary was observed relatively subduedly, according to Singh.
Nehru’s birth centenary was celebrated, Singh said.
Patel was conferred the Bharat Ratna, nearly four decades after his death.
Singh paid tribute to Patel on his 151st birth anniversary and spoke about Kashmir and Hyderabad.
- Speaker
- Rajnath Singh
- Role
- Defence minister
- Subject
- Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel
- Anniversary
- 151st birth anniversary
- Award
- Bharat Ratna in 1991
What people are saying
Sardar Patel himself had said that if Pandit Nehru had not intervened, he would have integrated Kashmir as easily as Hyderabad.
Sardar Patel was the architect of India’s political and territorial unity, whose extraordinary leadership, courage and unwavering commitment to national interest laid the foundation of a strong and united India