Contribution of Jawaharlal Nehru and Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel on the ‘Sardar Sarovar Dam’

Context

In the budget session of Gujrat Assembly, the members of ruling and opposition party has blown over the contribution of Jawaharlal Nehru and Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel on the ‘Sardar Sarovar Dam’ built on River Narmada.

The then prime minister Jawahar lal Nehru and his home minister sardar vallabh bhai patel are the freedom fighters and their contribution cannot be judged on the basis of ideologies of two political parties.

Sardar Sarovar Dam

The Sardar Sarovar Dam is a concrete gravity dam built on the Narmada river in Navagam near kevadiya, Narmada district, Gujarat in India. Indian states Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Rajasthan receive water and electricity supply from the dam.
The foundation stone of the project was laid out by Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru on 5 April 1961.
It has a height of 85 meters.

About

Contributions of Nehru and Patel

They played an important role in politics building, especially when it came to party affairs or, for instance, the choice of the first president of India.
Patel, who had a better grip over the party, invariably won these contest between Nehru and him.
Patel was also party to the idea of plebiscite wherever there was dispute — Junagadh, J&K and Hyderabad. This was the clear position of the government of India then.
Patel did not resign from the cabinet when it was decided to refer the J&K issue to the UN or when ceasefire was accepted by India. He might have had his reservations, but went along with the decisions.
Nehru’s stand -The Constitution of India was still being drafted and the country had decided to adopt the Westminster type of democracy with a prime minister and his cabinet, which was supposed to be collectively responsible to Parliament. The Constitution was still a work in progress and so is the system of collective responsibility and the authority of the PM in the cabinet. This has made the Nehru’s position in the government strong.