Nitish Kumar ahead of Narendra Modi as he unveils Patel statue in Bihar

BIHARSHARIF: In the backdrop of Narendra Modi's recent announcement of installing a huge statue of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel in Gujarat, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today unveiled a big statue of Patel here and paid homage to the great national leader.

"Patel had a great personality. He was a self-made man who had written his own story," Kumar told a public rally after unveiling the statue at Sardar Patel Memorial University here, the headquarters of Nalanda district.

Stating that Patel had organised farmers, Kumar said "he had outstanding organisational quality which impressed even Mahatama Gandhi."

Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi had announced to collect iron from farmers across the country to build a giant statue of Patel as 'Statue of Unity' in Gandhinagar.

Following it up senior BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi during a recent party function in Nalanda had said that collection of iron from farmers would begin from the home district (Nalanda) of the chief minister.