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| Sardar Patel |
In many Indian cities, traffic junctions are occupied by statues
of various politicians. It doesn’t matter whether it’s in the east, west,
north, south or central India. UP’s former CM, Mayavathi, took this mania to
the next level by building colossal statues of her own and her leaders by
diverting huge amounts of money from state budget. That too in a state where
people are struggling for basic services like health, education and sanitation.
Looks like Gujrat also got this mania. In the fast run to
own Sardar Patel from Congress (which anyway hardly care about their non-Gandhi
leaders of pre or post-independence era) Gujrat government is going to create
probably the tallest statue in the world - Sardar Patel statue in Narmada dam.
As Hindu reports, “Union Minister for Law and Justice,
Communications and IT Ravi Shankar Prasad on Friday said the nation needs a
memorial to pay tribute to the Sardar… “The Statue of Unity is a Rs. 4,000-Rs,
5,000 crore project and this money [Rs. 200 crore] is only for the statue. We
are proud of the legacy of Sardar Patel, the nation and the coming generations
need to be told what his contribution is. Why should there only be statues of
Indira Gandhi,” he said”
This statement came after the government allocated 200 crore
in recent general budget for this project.
As per Business Standard report, “The entire project will
include the statue, a memorial park at the base of the statue, an artificial
reservoir between the Dam and Garudeshwar town and a visitor facilitation
centre and reception desk at Kevadia.” – BS
DNA reports that, “to be developed on public private
partnership model, will cost around Rs2,500 crore. It will include the Statue
of Unity, and also besides a bridge, a road connecting the memorial with
Kevadia, convention centre, garden, amusement park, hotel, among others.” – DNA
The question is, does the government have the moral right to
divert such huge amount of money to this project when the fate of thousands of displaced
people are not fully settled? Why don’t allocate the same amount for compensatory
forestation? Why don’t invest this money in India’s primary health care
services or sanitation program and dedicate that program in the name of Sardar
Patel. Why don’t build bridges, railway lines to connect villages and cities of
India, and name the same after him?
I strongly believe, Saradar Patel will be happier to see the
money spend on a project which will benefit the nation and aid in nation building
rather than creating a lifeless statue somewhere in the middle of water.
Sajeev.
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