London: Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani unveiled a bronze-bust of the "Iron Man of India" Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel, the first Home Minister of Independent India, at the India House.

Even as the function took place on August 21 evening, a motley group protested outside the house against the Gujarat killings

Speaking on the occasion, Advani paid glowing tributes to Sardar Patel and said his achievements in integrating the country in the aftermath of the partition was nothing short of a miracle.

Advani also quoted eminent writer Rafiq Zakaria to drive home the fact that Sardar Patel was a great patriot and he was never against Muslims. "It will be a travesty of truth to describe him as anti-Muslim," he said.

High Commissioner Ronen Sen hailed Patel as "not only one of the greatest sons of India, but the architect of Indian Statehood".

Several prominent leaders including Lord Navnit Dholakia, Home Secretary Kamal Pande, Secretary of the Sardar Patel Memorial Society Kanu Bhai Desai and Chief of Overseas Friends of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Lalubhai Parikh also paid floral tributes.

A group of 20 activists of the South Asia Solidarity, India Muslim Council UK and South Asia Watch held demonstration outside the India House raising slogans against the Deputy Prime Minister, holding him and the BJP responsible for the recent communal riots in Gujarat in which large number of people were killed.

PTI