NEW DELHI: The Congress on Saturday hit back at Union home minister

over his allegation that the party had "consistently attempted to sideline and forget Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel", saying such remarks only damaged the image of the country's first deputy prime minister.

Senior Congress leader

said the party accorded Patel the respect he deserved and acknowledged his contribution to the country's national integration.

"We maintain that Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel deserves as much respect as any other great leader; we fully acknowledge his contributions. We are deeply committed to the vision, words, and actions of Sardar Patel, just as he himself intended," Khurshid said.

Questioning Shah's remarks, he added, "Given this, why do they make such statements? By saying such things, they are only damaging his image and diminishing the respect he commands. It is truly incomprehensible why they choose to make such remarks."

Earlier in the day, addressing an 'Ekta Run' event in New Delhi on Patel's 151st birth anniversary, Shah accused the Congress of failing to give the leader his due recognition.

"For many years, India did not accord Sardar Patel the respect he deserved. The

consistently attempted to sideline and forget Sardar Sahab, but a radiant personality like his can never be erased from the nation's memory," Shah said.

He credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi with honouring Patel's legacy through the construction of the Statue of Unity in Gujarat, describing it as the world's tallest statue.

"When Prime Minister Narendra Modi was the chief minister of Gujarat, he honoured Sardar Patel's legacy by building the Statue of Unity. Through this monumental tribute, Prime Minister Modi introduced Sardar Patel's towering contribution and remarkable personality to the entire nation," Shah said.

The home minister also highlighted Patel's role in integrating princely states into the Indian Union, saying the country achieved an undivided identity under his leadership in just 1,218 days.

"Even if several leaders worked together, work that could not be accomplished in an entire lifetime was achieved by Sardar Patel in just 1,218 days, creating an undivided India. Today, the India shaped by Sardar Patel's vision stands with pride before the world," he said.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid floral tributes to Patel at the Statue of Unity in Ekta Nagar, Gujarat, on his birth anniversary. The day is observed across the country as Rashtriya Ekta Diwas (National Unity Day), commemorating Patel's contribution to national integration after Independence.

Patel played a pivotal role in bringing hundreds of princely states into the Indian Union, earning him the title of the Iron Man of India.