Rajnath Singh: Patel Blocked Nehru’s Babri Masjid Funding Plan

Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has revealed a historical claim suggesting that Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister, intended to finance the Babri Masjid with public money. Singh stated that Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel was the one who thwarted this plan. The Defence Minister shared this during a ‘Unity March’ event in Gujarat, organized to celebrate Sardar Patel’s 150th birth anniversary. He further commented on efforts by unspecified groups to sideline Patel’s historical importance, attributing the recognition of Patel’s legacy to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Recounting an incident regarding the Somnath Temple’s reconstruction, Singh mentioned Nehru’s concerns over using funds. Patel, however, reportedly assured that the substantial sum required was a collection from citizens, not from state coffers. Singh underscored this point by stating that the government provided no funds for the Ayodhya Ram Temple’s construction, with contributions coming solely from the public, exemplifying genuine secular principles. He also referenced the 1946 Congress presidential election, alleging that Patel yielded the position to Nehru following Gandhi’s directive.