Article 370 Abrogation Was Fitting Tribute To Syama Prasad Mookerjee, Says PM Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said the 2019 decision to revoke Article 370 and Article 35A from Jammu and Kashmir fulfilled the vision of Syama Prasad Mookerjee, describing it as the "most fitting tribute" to the Bharatiya Jana Sangh founder's sacrifice. The remarks came in a signed article released on the occasion of Mookerjee's 125th birth anniversary.
Paying tribute to the nationalist leader, Modi wrote that Mookerjee dedicated his life to the cause of national unity and consistently placed the country's interests above all else. He said Mookerjee's commitment to integrating Jammu and Kashmir with the rest of India remained one of the defining aspects of his public life and that the constitutional changes introduced in 2019 reflected the ideals for which he had struggled.
The Prime Minister said Mookerjee chose a path of public service despite being born into a distinguished academic family and continued to serve the nation through periods marked by political upheaval and personal tragedy. He described the former Union minister as a leader whose courage, conviction and sense of duty left a lasting imprint on India's political history.
Modi also highlighted Mookerjee's role as the founder of the Bharatiya Jana Sangh, saying he created an alternative political platform at a time when the Congress dominated Indian politics. According to the Prime Minister, the Jana Sangh laid the ideological foundation for a movement that later evolved into the Bharatiya Janata Party.
The article also praised Mookerjee's contributions to education and industrial development, recalling his tenure as the youngest Vice-Chancellor of the University of Calcutta and later as India's first Minister for Industry and Supply. Modi credited him with supporting major industrial initiatives while simultaneously encouraging traditional sectors such as handlooms, cottage industries and small artisans.
Reflecting on India's democratic traditions, the Prime Minister said Mookerjee believed in constructive debate and public service, noting that he served in Jawaharlal Nehru's Cabinet before resigning over issues of national importance. Modi further said Mookerjee was among the strongest critics of the First Constitutional Amendment and consistently defended democratic values and freedom of expression.
Concluding his tribute, the Prime Minister urged citizens, particularly the youth, to draw inspiration from Mookerjee's ideals and contribute towards building a strong, united and self-reliant India as the country works towards the goal of becoming a Viksit Bharat.
