Relative Recalls Sardar Patel's Principle on Public Money

On National Unity Day, a relative of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel recalled an episode that reflects the leader's firm principles on honesty and the responsible use of government resources in public life.

Bhupendra Manubhai Patel said that Sardar Patel once declined to use a government car for a personal task. The leader believed firmly that official vehicles must serve official purposes alone, and that public funds should not be diverted to private use.

In a video shared online, Bhupendra Patel also described his experience with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He said that during a programme of the Prime Minister, he had met the Prime Minister's family. The family had not imagined that the Prime Minister would remember them and call them over.

“Honestly, we had never thought Narendra bhai would remember us,” he said. “He called all of us and paid attention even to small details.”

He further said that Sardar Patel had received a remarkable honour, one that he had never seen given to anyone else. He added that Narendra Modi is strongly influenced by Sardar Patel's achievements and foresight, and that similar vision can be seen in Modi's own leadership.

Bhupendra Patel also referred to an old incident connected with the Bardoli Satyagraha. A person who had been close to Sardar Patel during the movement came to Delhi. While Patel was travelling in his official car, he noticed the man on the road, asked the driver to stop, and invited him to come along.

Patel enquired how the man had reached Delhi, and the reply was that he had come for sightseeing. Patel then took him to his home and spent two days showing him various places in the capital. When the man expressed a wish to return, Patel arranged a private taxi.

The man asked why a taxi was being booked when a car was available. Patel made it clear that the car belonged to the government and could be used only for government work. He would not allow it to be used for personal purposes.

Bhupendra Patel said Sardar Patel had never spent even a single paisa of government money on personal work. He noted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi holds a similar view on the private use of public money.