VicePresident M. Venkaiah Naidu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday paidtribute to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on his death anniversary.
"Myhumble tributes to the leader I admire most - the Iron Man of India, SardarVallabhbhai Patel - on his death anniversary," Naidu said in a series oftweets.
"Hiscontribution to the Indian freedom struggle and his unparalleled effort inintegrating more than 560 princely States with the Indian Union will foreverinspire every Indian," Naidu added.
Modialso took to twitter and wrote, "I pay tribute to Sardar VallabhbhaiPatel, the iron man who laid the foundation of a strong and prosperous India onhis death anniversary. Path shown by him will always inspire us to safeguardthe unity, integrity and sovereignty of the country."
Patel,a freedom fighter became India's first home minister and deputy prime minister.He is credited for unifying hundreds of princely states with the Union of Indiafollowing independence through a mix of persuasion, dialogue and even use offorce when required.