Patel had no quarrel with the theory of socialism, but he could not tolerate Congress socialists whose talk, he thought, had little relation to realities of life in India. Each group had its own pet theory: some wanted wholesale nationalization of industries; others advocated a cooperative system and a third coterie preferred confiscation of all property. Patel once said: ‘We are told there are eighty-four castes among Brahmans, but judging by their disputes and difference, I think there must be eighty-five varieties of socialists!’… His advice to young socialists was: ‘Before you talk of
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