Gandhinagar, Gujarat – May 27: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, addressing a gathering in Gandhinagar, revisited the enduring Kashmir conflict, invoking the legacy of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel to underscore what he termed as a historical missed opportunity in reclaiming Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).
Reflecting on Patel’s strong advocacy for a resolute military stance during the early stages of the Kashmir crisis in 1947, the Prime Minister said, “Sardar Patel believed that military operations should not have ceased until PoK was fully integrated into India. Unfortunately, his counsel was disregarded.”
While refraining from directly naming India’s first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, Prime Minister Modi drew a pointed contrast between the leadership decisions of the time. “In 1947, when Maa Bharti was partitioned, shackles should have been cut — instead, her limbs were severed,” he remarked, lamenting the partition’s aftermath and its cascading impact on the Kashmir issue.
He further accused Pakistan of exploiting the situation by supporting the first terrorist incursion into Kashmir under the guise of “Mujahideen.” He noted that the failure to decisively eliminate the militants then had prolonged the region’s instability for over seven decades. “If Sardar Patel’s vision had been honoured and action continued, the reality of Kashmir today would have been different,” he stated.
Revisiting Patel’s Role in the Kashmir Conflict
Known as the “Iron Man of India,” Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel played a seminal role in post-Independence India, particularly in the integration of over 560 princely states into the Union. As the nation’s first Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister, Patel was deeply involved in managing the aftermath of the tribal invasion of Jammu and Kashmir in October 1947 — an operation supported by the Pakistani military.
Patel was a key proponent of immediate military intervention following the accession of Jammu and Kashmir to India on October 26, 1947. Indian forces were airlifted to Srinagar the following day, successfully repelling the invading forces and beginning what would become the First Indo-Pak War. The conflict ended in January 1949 with a UN-mediated ceasefire, resulting in the de facto division of Kashmir — a move Patel reportedly opposed.
While the Kashmir file was largely under the purview of Prime Minister Nehru and influenced by then-Governor-General Lord Mountbatten, Patel is believed to have expressed regret at the decision to halt military operations and internationalize the issue. “If I had handled Kashmir, we would not have this problem,” he reportedly remarked in later years.
A Message for Pakistan
Reaffirming his government's firm stance on national security, Prime Minister Modi delivered a veiled warning to Pakistan. “No matter how strong a body is, even a small thorn can cause great pain. Now, we have resolved to remove that thorn,” he said, alluding to PoK.
Emphasizing India’s pursuit of peace alongside its preparedness for defence, Modi declared, “India wishes to live in peace and let others live in peace too. But if our strength is tested through proxy wars, we will not remain silent.”
The remarks come at a time of renewed geopolitical attention on PoK and serve to reinforce the government’s narrative of national security, historical rectification, and honouring the legacy of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.
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