Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday paid tribute to India's first deputy Prime Minister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on his 70th death anniversary.
"I pay tribute to the Iron Man Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, who laid the foundation of a strong and prosperous India on his death anniversary. The path he showed will always inspire us to protect the unity, integrity and sovereignty of the country," Mr Modi tweeted.
Born on October 31, 1875, Sardar Patel, who is credited with uniting all 562 princely states of the pre-independent country to build the Republic of India, passed away on December 15, 1950.