Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh has rebuffed Narendra Modi's claim on Sardar Patel's legacy, saying that the late leader was secular and liberal, having respect for those having a different ideology. While sharing dais with the Gujarat Chief Minister in Ahmedabad, Dr. Singh underlined that Patel was a Congressman and he was proud to be a member of the same political party he was associated with. Inaugurating a museum on the first Home Minister, the Prime Minister said that Sardar Patel had a deep faith in the integrity of India. He said, Sardar Patel was the instrumental force in building India, as we know it today. Dr. Singh added that Sardar Patel had unique administrative skills for which he was called the Iron Man of India.

Earlier, speaking on the occasion, Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi had said that Sardar Patel would have been a better first Prime Minister. He also said, terrorism and Maoism are the big issues before the country. He appealed to youth, who have taken the wrong path, to come back to the mainstream.