Patel Opposed Nehru’s Plan for Public Funding of Babri Masjid

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has claimed that India’s inaugural Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, had proposed utilizing public funds for the construction of the Babri Masjid, a proposal vehemently opposed by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. These statements were made at a ‘Unity March’ in Gujarat, commemorating Sardar Patel’s 150th birth anniversary. Singh also lamented that certain forces have endeavored to obscure Patel’s historical significance, asserting that PM Narendra Modi has rightfully reinstated Patel as a key figure in national history. Elucidating Patel’s approach to religious restoration, Singh cited the example of the Somnath Temple. He noted that Patel clarified Nehru’s concerns about renovation costs by stating that the Rs 30 lakh expenditure was entirely sourced from public donations. Singh emphasized that this contrasts with governmental funding, pointing out that the Ram Temple in Ayodhya was also built through public contributions, defining this as true secularism. The Defence Minister also recalled Patel’s withdrawal from the Congress presidential race in 1946, stating it was at Mahatma Gandhi’s behest to allow Nehru to take the lead.