Kolkata: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday asserted that the abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir fulfilled the long-cherished dream of Bharatiya Jana Sangh founder Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee, as the BJP marked his 125th birth anniversary with commemorative events in Kolkata. The occasion also saw Union Home Minister Amit Shah laying the foundation stone for a 125-foot-tall statue of Mookerjee, paying tribute to the nationalist leader’s contribution to India’s political and ideological landscape.
Addressing the commemorative programme through a video message, PM Modi described Dr Mookerjee as a visionary leader, patriot, and a steadfast advocate of national unity. He linked several of the BJP-led government’s major policy decisions to the ideals championed by the Jana Sangh founder, particularly highlighting the revocation of Article 370, which had granted special status to the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir.
“By abrogating Article 370, we have fulfilled the dream of Syama Prasad Mookerjee,” the Prime Minister said while recalling the late leader’s unwavering opposition to separate constitutional provisions for Jammu and Kashmir.
Modi also revisited Mookerjee’s famous slogan opposing the existence of separate constitutional arrangements within one nation. He noted that Mookerjee’s call for “one country, one Constitution, one head and one symbol” was not merely a political slogan but a vision rooted in equal rights, constitutional uniformity, and national integration. According to the Prime Minister, the idea of “Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat” continues to inspire the country’s developmental and governance agenda.
Highlighting Mookerjee’s contribution during the Partition of India, Modi credited him with playing a decisive role in preventing the entire Bengal province from becoming part of Pakistan. He said Mookerjee mobilised public opinion and fought significant political battles to ensure that Bengal remained an integral part of India. Referring to one of Mookerjee’s well-known remarks, Modi quoted him as saying, “Congress divided the country, and I divided Pakistan,” underscoring his role in the creation of West Bengal within the Indian Union.
The Prime Minister further reflected on the transformation of the Bharatiya Jana Sangh into today’s Bharatiya Janata Party, describing it as the world’s largest democratic political organisation. He said the BJP continues to draw inspiration from Mookerjee’s principles, courage, and far-sighted vision, expressing confidence that future generations studying the party’s history would always acknowledge the Jana Sangh founder’s enduring legacy.
Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Amit Shah participated in a grand commemorative programme at Milan Mela Prangan in Kolkata, where he laid the foundation stone for a 125-foot statue of Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee at Eco Park in New Town. Calling the occasion deeply emotional, Shah remarked that the installation of the statue in Mookerjee’s birthplace had taken place 63 years after his death.
During his address, Shah praised West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari for fulfilling several commitments made in the BJP’s election manifesto. He revealed that he had personally requested the Chief Minister to ensure the construction of Mookerjee’s statue and declare July 6 a public holiday in the state in honour of the nationalist leader. Shah also announced that he had proposed the establishment of a Syama Prasad Mookerjee Research Centre near the statue to preserve and promote his legacy.
The union home minister highlighted a series of initiatives undertaken by the state government, including the implementation of the Annapurna Yojana, free bus rides for women, the rollout of the Ayushman Bharat health scheme, and the handover of border land for fencing to the BSF. He also referred to the passage of the Maintenance of Public Order (Amendment) Bill, 2026, describing it as an important step towards tackling lawlessness and strengthening public safety. Additionally, Shah stated that a committee had been constituted to facilitate the implementation of the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in the state and claimed that efforts had begun to identify and repatriate illegal infiltrators.
Expressing confidence in the BJP-led state government, Shah said the vision of building a “Sonar Bangla” would be realised under the leadership of CM Suvendu Adhikari.
The Home Minister also revisited Mookerjee’s resignation from independent India’s first Union Cabinet over the Nehru-Liaquat Pact. He said Mookerjee believed that India’s policies should be shaped by the country’s own civilisational values and national interests rather than external influences.
Launching a political attack on the Congress, Shah alleged that successive Congress governments had never allowed a proper investigation into the circumstances surrounding Mookerjee’s death in Kashmir in 1953, describing it as a long-standing unresolved issue.
As part of his Kolkata visit, Shah also performed the bhumi pujan ceremony at the proposed statue site before making a courtesy visit to the residence of veteran Bengali actor Prosenjit Chatterjee in Ballygunge. The Home Minister was accompanied by CM Suvendu Adhikari, BJP state president Samik Bhattacharya, and state ministers Nisith Pramanik and Indranil Khan. Chatterjee, one of Bengal’s most celebrated actors, was recently honoured with the Padma Shri for his distinguished contribution to Indian cinema.
