On Wednesday the Prime Minister Narendra Modi shut all those who have been criticising the government’s decision to build the statue of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel after inaugurating the 182-metre tall monument at Kevadiya in Gujarat.

“…to my surprise, some people of this country are seeing our movement through the political glasses. We are criticized for praising the contributions of national heroes like Sardar Patel. We are made to feel as if we have committed a serious crime," he said.
 
The Prime Minister also used the opportunity to strike at the Congress president Rahul Gandhi by saying, “had Sardar Patel not worked for unity", "shiv bhakts" wouldn't have been able to pray at the Somnath temple today”.

“If Sardar Patel had not united the country, the countrymen would have needed visas to see lions in Junagadh… and 'shiv bhakts' would need a visa to perform puja at  Somnath temple in Gujarat or to see the Charminar in Hyderabad,” Modi said in his 55-minute address.

The ‘Statue of Unity’ which is the world’s tallest statue has been built at a cost of Rs 2,989 crore with over 70,000 tonnes of cement, 18,500 tonnes of reinforcement steel, 6,000 tonnes of structural steel and 1,700 metric tonnes of bronze for the outer cladding of the structure.