PM Modi says Article 370 abrogation was the most fitting tribute to Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said that the abrogation of Articles 370 and 35A in August 2019 was the most fitting tribute to Bharatiya Jana Sangh founder Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee, stating that it fulfilled the vision for which he had dedicated his life and made the supreme sacrifice.

In a signed article released on the occasion of Dr. Mookerjee’s 125th birth anniversary, Prime Minister Modi described him as a visionary leader whose unwavering commitment to national unity, democratic values, and public service continues to inspire generations.

The Prime Minister said July 6 holds special significance for those who believe in nationalism and selfless service, recalling Dr. Mookerjee’s role in ensuring that West Bengal remained part of India during Partition and his campaign for the complete integration of Jammu and Kashmir with the Indian Union.

Referring to Dr. Mookerjee’s arrest and death in Srinagar in 1953 while protesting the special constitutional status of Jammu and Kashmir, the Prime Minister said his sacrifice was honoured by the Centre’s decision to revoke Articles 370 and 35A.

“Few leaders in modern India embodied the seamless confluence of intellect, public service, and moral conviction as profoundly as Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee,” the Prime Minister said.

“The young Syama Prasad was born into circumstances that could easily have assured him a protected and comfortable life. His father, Sir Ashutosh Mookerjee, was among the foremost educationists and intellectuals of his age. Yet, while destiny placed before him a path of privilege, his conscience led him towards one of sacrifice and national service,” the Prime Minister said, adding, “Mookerjee was convinced that he could not remain a mute spectator to the turbulence of his times, be it fighting colonialism, communalism, humanitarian challenges, or other national issues.”

The Prime Minister further said that if there was one ideal that defined Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee’s public life above all else, it was the indivisibility of India. He stood firm during the upheaval of Partition to ensure that West Bengal remained an integral part of India.

Recalling Dr. Mookerjee’s role in the integration of Jammu and Kashmir with the Indian Union, the Prime Minister said that a few years later, that very conviction drew him to Jammu and Kashmir.

“Imprisonment did not deter him, and isolation did not diminish him. His life came to an abrupt end in detention, far from the countless people whose cause he had made his own. There are moments in history when an individual’s final sacrifice transcends politics and enters the realm of national memory. Dr Mookerjee’s last journey remains one such moment. Acharya Vinoba Bhave said that Dr. Mookerjee sacrificed himself for a cause in which he had faith. Years later, the revocation of Articles 370 and 35A in 2019 was the most fitting tribute to his martyrdom,” the Prime Minister stated.

“The abrogation of Articles 370 and 35A fulfilled the vision for which Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee devoted his life and ultimately made the supreme sacrifice,” the Prime Minister said.

The Prime Minister also highlighted Dr. Mookerjee’s contributions as the youngest Vice-Chancellor of the University of Calcutta, India’s first Minister for Industry and Supply, and the founder of the Bharatiya Jana Sangh. He credited him with laying the foundation for modern industrial development while promoting education, self-reliance, and democratic values.

Prime Minister Modi said Dr. Mookerjee consistently placed the nation above personal interests and demonstrated that spirit by resigning from Jawaharlal Nehru’s Cabinet when differences emerged over matters of national importance.

Concluding his tribute, the Prime Minister called upon citizens, particularly the youth, to carry forward Dr. Mookerjee’s ideals and contribute towards building a strong, united, and developed India.