Indian opposition leader Narendra Modi launched the construction of the world's tallest statue on Thursday, a $338 million project in honour of one of the country's founding fathers, that he is using to undermine the ruling Nehru-Gandhi political family. The statue of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, who was first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru's deputy and his interior minister, but often at odds with him, is to be built on a river island in Gujarat, the home state of both Patel and Modi.
It will be built in four years and will be twice the height of the Statue of Liberty. "The world will be forced to look at India when this statue stands tall," said Modi, who rules Gujarat as chief minister and is the leading opposition candidate for prime minister in general elections due by next May.