Tamil Nadu   

Patel a role model for politicians: Vittal

Special Correspondent

He was responsible for maintaining integrity in governance of the nation

— Photo: R.Ragu

PRIZE WINNERS: T.S. Krishnamurthy, former Chief Election Commissioner (left), presenting prizes to Prithvi V. Shankar (extreme right), and K. Umesh Rao, winners of the oratorical competition organised by the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Memorial Trust, at Bharathiya Vidya Bhavan. N. Vittal, former Chief Vigilance Commissioner, is also in the picture.

CHENNAI: The modern media should be utilised effectively to spread the importance of high values in public life, as demonstrated by Sardar Patel, former Central Vigilance Commissioner N. Vittal said on Tuesday.

Pointing out that Patel was known for integrity and moral authority, Mr. Vittal said clarity, firmness of mind, vision and capacity for sacrifice were among the other qualities of the departed leader.

Addressing a function organised here by the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Memorial Trust on the occasion of Patel's 131st birth anniversary, Mr. Vittal regretted that Patel was not remembered adequately now.

Recalling the services rendered by Patel for the unification of princely states with the nation, the former CVC compared him with Bismarck of Germany. Patel performed a much larger task at a shorter period with no bloodshed. He was responsible for maintaining integrity in the governance of the nation through bureaucracy and launching the cooperation movement in Gujarat. He had shown how a political leader could be absolutely honest, even while raising funds for his party, Mr. Vittal said.

Former Chief Election Commissioner T.S. Krishnamurthy said Patel had differences of opinion with Jawaharlal Nehru on issues such as Jammu and Kashmir and internal disorder. He was a role model to the modern-day politicians. As the Home Minister, he encouraged the officers to carry out critical scrutiny of his proposals.

Mr. Krishnamurthy gave away prizes to K. Umesh Rao and Prithvi V. Shankar, students of School of Excellence in Law in Ambedkar Law University, Chennai, for winning in an oratorical competition held earlier. N. Sugalchand Jain, president of the Trust, said various events were conducted to perpetuate the memory of Patel. C.S. Veeraraghavan, secretary, said Tamil translation of books on Patel would be completed shortly.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Petition given to `Annadurai'
Sporting talent comes to the fore
For All Souls Day
High tension on road
"India next hot spot for industrial fairs"
"We are committed to building houses for the tsunami-affected"
Seminar series on management techniques
Patel a role model for politicians: Vittal
Briefly
In Perundurai Today

Copyright © 2006, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu