New Delhi

Union Minister M Venkaiah Naidu today said had Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel been the first Prime Minister of India things would have been different and that justice had not been done to his memory.

Addressing the National Unity Day on the 140th birth anniversary of Patel, Naidu said “I am also of the opinion like millions of people of the country, had Sardar Patel been the first Prime Minister of the country, things would have been (different).”

Naidu said he cannot stop expressing his views that “history has not done justice to the Sardar Patel’s memory for whatever reason it is.”

He said Patel single-handedly ensured unification of various provinces and princely states with India.

“His work for national integration should be emulated by us…we should also encourage others to follow the path shown by him,” Naidu said.

Patel was the first Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister of independent India.

PTI