Prime Minister Narendra Modi today paid tributes to the country's first Home Minister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on his death anniversary, saying the nation will remain indebted to him forever.

"On his Punya Tithi (death anniversary), I pay my respects to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel," PM Modi tweeted.

"India will forever be indebted to Sardar Patel for his tireless efforts to unite the Nation," he added.

Known as the 'Iron Man' of India, Sardar Patel was instrumental in uniting the country through merger of small princely states. He died of cardiac arrest on this day in 1950.