New Delhi: Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani on October 19 accused the Britishers of sowing "seeds of disintegration" in India while leaving in 1947 and hailed Sardar Patel for consolidating the country by uniting princely states.

"People only know that Britishers through their cleverness broke India into two parts while leaving. But the fact is they also sowed seeds of disintegration by dividing the country on the basis of religion and otherwise," Advani said at a function organised here to honour him.

He said that the Britishers while leaving told the rulers of 556 princely states, whether nawabs or maharajas, that they were "independent now" and could decide whether to be with India or Pakistan.

"Several rulers of the princely states wanted to remain free," Advani said, adding had it been allowed, India would not have broken in two pieces.

"It was Sardar Patel who merged these states into the country in a very short time either by evoking their patriotism or using threats. In the case of Hyderabad, whose nizam refused to join India, he sent military," the DPM said, adding this was unparalleled in the world.

He said if Sardar Patel were not there, India would not have existed in the present form.

Advani said that the Vajpayee government was "honestly trying" to convert 'swaraj' (self-rule) into 'su-raj' (good rule) whose symbols were national security and corruption-free administration.

PTI