Nehru had called Patel a 'total communalist', says Advani

“At a cabinet meeting, Patel had described these things and demanded that army be sent to end the terror-regime in Hyderabad. Nehru who usually spoke calmly, peacefully and with international etiquette, spoke losing his composure, ‘You are a total communalist.I will never accept your recommendation...  “Patel remained unperturbed but left the room with his papers,” Advani says, quoting from Nair's book.  

BJP has of late been trying to appropriate Sardar Patel as a leader close to the Hindutva ideology.  

On Patel's 138th anniversary on October 31, Advani had heaped praise on India's first Home Minister at the inauguration of a project to build a 182 metre tall statue-the tallest in the world- of the leader.