'Bahut der kar di huzoor': As Congress moves to reclaim Sardar Patel's legacy, BJP says it is 'blatant oxymoron'

NEW DELHI: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday criticised the Congress for invoking the legacy of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel during its ongoing All India Congress Committee (AICC) session in Ahmedabad, calling it a politically motivated move.

Responding to the Congress Working Committee’s (CWC) resolution passed on Tuesday, BJP spokesperson CR Kesavan said, "If the Congress party , which is now suddenly and shamelessly faking respect for Sardar Patel , had any real regard for him, the Congress party would have named its party headquarters 'Sardar Bhavan', it wouldn't have given the dynastic name of 'Indira Bhavan'. The Congress party is only doing this for sheer political mileage ..."

VIDEO | BJP Spokesperson CR Kesavan (@crkesavan) on CWC meeting’s special resolution on Sardar Patel: "If the Congress party, which is now suddenly and shamelessly, faking respect for Sardar Patel ji, had any regard for him... the Congress party would have named its party… pic.twitter.com/nQJ0mgBYIX

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) April 9, 2025

He said that if Congress had genuinely respected Patel, it would have honoured him earlier, including by naming its headquarters after him rather than using a name associated with the Nehru-Gandhi family.

BJP leader Shahnawaz Hussain also attacked the Congress over what he described as a delayed recognition of Patel’s contribution. " Bahut der kar di huzoor aate aate (you came very late). Congress, which used to disrespect Sardar Patel, is now remembering him. His biggest statue was made in Gujarat; they should visit there, but they haven't. He belonged to entire country. Had he been the PM, the country would have been different. They are waking up after losing everything," he said while speaking to PTI.

VIDEO | On Congress passing resolution to claim Sardar Patel's legacy, BJP spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain (@ShahnawazBJP) says, "'Bahut der kar di huzoor aate aate' (you came very late). Congress who used to disrecpect Sardar Patel are now remembering him. His biggest statue was… pic.twitter.com/vKg2H9toxG

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) April 9, 2025

Responding to BJP’s criticism, Congress MP Imran Pratapgarhi said, "BJP doesn't have any great man who took part in India's freedom struggle, so they borrow. Sometimes, they claim their right on Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, sometimes they claim on Baba Saheb Ambedkar. The truth is that the BJP does not have even one great man to count who fought for the freedom of the country on behalf of the BJP, Jansangh, RSS."

#WATCH | Ahmedabad, Gujarat: Congress MP Imran Pratapgarhi says, "BJP doesn't have any great man who took part in India's freedom struggle, so they borrow. Sometimes, they claim their right on Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, sometimes they claim on Baba Saheb Ambedkar. The truth is… pic.twitter.com/G1GnXyAwRU

— ANI (@ANI) April 9, 2025

The BJP's reaction came after the Congress Working Committee, during the first day of the 84th AICC convention in Ahmedabad, passed a resolution saying the party would walk on the path shown by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel to counter divisive forces. This is the first time in 64 years that the event is being held in Gujarat.

A copy of the resolution was posted on social media platform X by Congress general secretary KC Venugopal. It said, "The Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and proponent of social justice, our leader Rahul Gandhi, as also millions of Congress workers, are even more determined today to walk on the 'Nyaypath' in our struggle for the protection of the Constitution as also our democracy. The path shown by Sardar Patel is this very path."

It added, "We stand committed to walk on the path lit by Sardar Patel, imbibe his thoughts and reshape our present and future with his vision and thoughts. This would be the fittest tribute to the life work of iron man, Sardar Patel."

The resolution was passed in the presence of senior leaders including Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge, Priyanka Gandhi and KC Venugopal.