Gujarat delegation meet Tarun Gogoi to seek support for statue

GUWAHATI: A 17-member delegation from Gujarat, comprising MPs, MLAs and officials, met Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi to seek state government's support for erecting a statue of the country's first Home Minister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on the banks of Narmada river.

The delegation, led by Gujarat Minister for Social Justice, Empowerment and Youth Culture Ramanlal Vora, called on Gogoi last night and apprised him about the ambitious project taken up by Gujarat Government to erect a giant statue of Sardar Patel measuring 182 metres in height.

Vora said here today that it was apt that iron be collected from different parts of the country for the 'Statue of Unity' as Sardar Vallabhbhai was known as the 'Loha Purush' ( Iron Man) of India.

Gogoi while extending his government's support for the project, pointed out that Sardar Patel did not belong to Gujarat alone but to the whole country.

"Sardar Patel was a leader of national stature and held in high esteem and respected by one and all. He belonged to the whole country," he said.

The delegation also gave Gogoi a letter of appeal personally signed by Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi.

Besides Vora, the delegation comprised among others Minister of State for Salt Industry Vasanbhai Ahir, Member of Parliament Mansukhbhai Vasava, MLAs Ashokbhai Patel, Kishorbhai Chauhan, Jitubhai Vaghani, Nimashaben Suthar and Dushyantbhai Patel.

The delegation would also visit Meghalaya and Nagaland to seek support for the mega statue project.