Defence Minster says 130th Constitutional Amendment will be part of Patel’s legacy

Sardar Patel had maintained that any charge of corruption against any Minister must be fully investigated and, if proven, should result in resignation, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh recalled on Tuesday (December 2, 2025). The BJP has honoured this legacy and is advancing the 130th Constitutional Amendment, he said.

Mr. Singh was addressing the ‘Sardar Sabha’ in Vadodara on the occasion of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s 150th birth anniversary. He said the government has proposed the 130th Constitutional Amendment Bill — mandating that any public officeholder required to remain in jail for more than 30 days must resign.

The Defence Minister said the Bill aims to strengthen integrity, transparency and moral accountability in Indian governance, reflecting the principles Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel championed throughout his life.

He further said that despite the Bill’s clear intent to curb corruption, some political groups continued to oppose it. He stressed the need to expose those who “undermine ethical governance and corrupt the political system”, adding that the measure honours Patel’s unwavering stance on honesty and responsibility in public life.

Invoking Patel’s legacy, the Minister recalled how India’s first Home Minister insisted that complaints against any Minister — regardless of rank — must be investigated, and that those found guilty should resign immediately. “This wish of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel has been respected for the first time in Independent India by the BJP,” Mr. Singh said.

He described the amendment as a natural extension of Patel’s nation-first philosophy, calling him a leader who built India’s administrative foundations and demonstrated how strong governance could be achieved even under immense pressure and differing viewpoints.

Mr. Singh also highlighted Patel’s rise from humble origins in Gujarat to becoming one of modern India’s most consequential leaders, saying the country’s emergence as a global economic and strategic power is a continuation of Patel’s vision.

The Defence Minister added that some political forces had once attempted to consign Patel to “the pages of history”, but Prime Minister Narendra Modi played a pivotal role in restoring him as a “shining star” in India’s national narrative.