Sardar Vallabhai Patel strove all his life for unity of India: N Chandrababu Naidu

HYDERABAD: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu paid glowing tributes to Sardar Vallabhai Patel on his birth anniversary today and said the leader was a "fiery champion of fundamental rights and liberty."

Addressing a brief function at the State Secretariat to mark the National Unity Day, he said, Sardar Patel strove all his life for the unity of India.

He administered the unity pledge to the Secretariat employees on the occasion.

"If India stands as one today, its only due to the efforts of Sardar Patel, who was the key in amalgamation of the erstwhile Princely States into the Indian Union. He was the Home Minister for 40 months, he did so much good that is sufficient for 400 generations," Naidu said.

His life should be taken as an inspiration and everyone should contribute to the betterment of India and place it on the top in the world, he added.

The Chief Minister also wanted everyone to make the Central government's new programmes such as Swachh Bharat, Make in India, Digital India and the state government's programmes like Janmabhoomi and various missions for empowerment of different section, a success.

Chief Secretary I Y R Krishna Rao, AP Secretariat Employees Association president U Murali Krishna and others were present on the occasion.