Sardar Patel was a much misunderstood man. His passion for order and discipline was often considered to be due to a desire for exercise of authority. He believed in protecting the rights of Muslims as much as those of the Hindus but he could not appreciate the hesitation of Pandit Jawaharlal and others to oppose Muslim fanaticism. The Sardar had no more sympathy with the Hindu Mahasabha and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh than others, but he wanted them to be dealt with in the same manner as the Muslim League and the communist parties and similar anti-national organizations…
