Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday paid heartfelt tributes to Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee, the founder of the Bharatiya Jana Sangh, on his martyrdom day, remembering him as a visionary leader who made an “invaluable contribution to nation-building” and upheld the integrity of India with unmatched courage.
“Tributes to Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee on his Balidan Diwas. He displayed incomparable courage and effort to keep the integrity of the country intact. His invaluable contribution to nation-building will always be remembered with reverence,” PM Modi posted on X.
🕊️ Remembering a Nationalist Icon
Dr. Mookerjee, a distinguished academician and statesman, was a key figure in post-independence India. He served as the Minister for Industry and Supply in Jawaharlal Nehru’s cabinet before resigning in 1950 over ideological differences. In 1951, he founded the Bharatiya Jana Sangh, the ideological forerunner of today’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
He is widely remembered for his opposition to Article 370, which granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir. In 1953, he was arrested for entering the state without a permit and died in custody on June 23, 1953, under circumstances that remain controversial to this day.
🗣️ Tributes Across the Political Spectrum
Union Ministers JP Nadda, Dharmendra Pradhan, and Nitin Gadkari also paid homage, highlighting Mookerjee’s role in advocating for “Ek Vidhan, Ek Samvidhan” (One Constitution, One Law) and his lifelong commitment to cultural nationalism.
Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath described him as a “great freedom fighter and visionary,” while Delhi CM Rekha Gupta called him “a lion who roared for India’s unity”.
Stay tuned for more updates on India’s political legacy and national commemorations.
