New Delhi : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday praised India's first Home Minister Vallabhbhai Patel, saying he played a great role in uniting the country after Independence.
"Today, the country from Kashmir to Kanyakumari is under one flag and the credit for this goes to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel," Modi said addressing a gathering at the National Stadium here on the birth anniversary of the country's 'Iron Man'.
The Prime Minister said the British, before leaving the country in 1947, had ensured that India splits into small states.
"While leaving the country, the British had played politics to divide India into numerous small states, but Sardar Patel made sure that it stayed as one nation," he added.