Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday said Jawaharlal Nehru wanted to build the Babri Masjid in Ayodhya using public funds, but Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel prevented it. He added that Nehru had suggested using funds collected by the public for Patel's memorial to construct roads and wells. Singh hailed Patel as a liberal, secular leader who never practiced appeasement.