Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday said freedom fighter and India’s first Union Home Minister, the late Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel was instrumental in annexation of 630 princely States with Union of India but could not merge Jammu and Kashmir because Article 370 was in vogue.
Participating as a chief guest at the Dikshant passing out parade of the 70 batch IPS probationers (Regular Recruits) at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy here, Shah said after scrapping of the Article 370 by NDA Government, Jammu and Kashmir had now become part of the country.
After Independence, the then Nizam had refused to merge Hyderabad princely State with India. Using police force, Patel ensured that Hyderabad was merged with India.
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The full credit goes to the then police force, he said recalling the services of Patel whose contribution was immense in protecting the unity of the country.