Several Opposition leaders on Wednesday slammed Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s remarks after he claimed that the country’s first prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, wanted to build the Babri Masjid using public funds. The Opposition also accused him and the BJP of distorting historical facts.

While addressing a gathering on Tuesday at Sadhli village near Vadodara as part of a 'Unity March' to commemorate the 150th birth anniversary celebrations of India's first home minister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Singh said, "Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru wanted to build the Babri Masjid (in Ayodhya) using public funds. If anyone opposed this proposal, it was Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, born to a Gujarati mother. He didn't allow the Babri Masjid to be built using public funds."