Those outside 'family' were erased from public memory: Modi

Modi's comments regarding the two freedom fighters comes amidst the raging controversy between Congress and BJP on claiming legacy of stalwart freedom fighter Sardar Patel.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Modi had sparred over the legacy of Sardar at a public function here recently.

“Much has been made of our efforts to commemorate various historical figures, who have either been completely ignored or have not been adequately remembered in the history books,” Modi said.

Paying tributes to Azad, who was India's first education minister, Modi wrote “Maulana Azad will also be remembered for his steadfast opposition to partition of India. In 1912, he started the paper ‘Al-Hilal', which did not hesitate from attacking the colonial rulers.”