"Those who are here would agree that today these ideals are lacking. We need to halt from time to time and remember what are those lofty thoughts which form the foundations of our country," he said.
Union minister Dinsha Patel, who addressed the gathering after Modi, also did not spare the BJP's prime ministerial challenger, saying, "Some people talk big and some do great work. Sardar Patel had done historical work".
Patel's statement was greeted with loud cheers by the crowd.
Congress leaders have often dubbed Modi as 'Feku' (braggart) who blows his own trumpet over development.
Modi, in his speech had referred to Patel having sought reservation for women in the Ahmedabad municipality in 1991, which was contested by Dinsha.
"What Modiji said, the year was not 1919 but 1926. Sardar Patel had introduced reservation for women in Ahmedabad municipality in 1926," the Union minister said pointing at the error, which too was greeted by the gathering with resounding cheers.
