"Visionary whose thoughts still guide BJP, country": Dharmendra Pradhan pays tribute to Syama Prasad Mookerjee on his death anniversary
New Delhi [India], June 23 (ANI): Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Monday paid tribute to Bharatiya Jana Sangh founder Dr Syama Prasad Mukherjee on his 72nd death anniversary, remembering him as a visionary whose principles continue to shape the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the country.
Highlighting Dr Mukherjee's role in advocating for a unified India, Pradhan reflected on his 1953 protest against dual systems in the country, which led to Mukherjee's brave entry into Jammu and Kashmir.
'For the BJP and the Jan Sangh, Syama Prasad Mukherjee was a visionary whose thoughts still guide the Bharatiya Janata Party and the country. Seventy-two years ago, in 1953, he raised an important issue while protesting that there cannot be two systems within one country. He believed that if India had two separate laws or systems, it could not truly be called united or independent. To prove his point, he risked his life and entered Jammu and Kashmir. That moment became a part of history,' Pradhan said.
He further emphasised that it took 72 years to fulfil his sacrifice, with the historic abrogation of Article 370 by the government in 2019, a tribute to Mukherjee's enduring legacy.
'If we compare both dates, it took almost 72 years to fulfil Syama Prasad Mukherjee's sacrifice. It was the privilege of the Prime Minister to make his dream come true. On August 5th, 2019, the government made a historic decision to abrogate Article 370, honouring Dr Mukherjee's vision,' Pradhan said.
Delhi chief minister Rekha Gupta, BJP MPs from Delhi, Delhi assembly speaker Vijendra Gupta and other senior members of the Bhartiya Janata Party accompanied him.
Syama Prasad Mookerjee was the founder of Bharatiya Jana Sangh, the ideological parent organisation of the BJP. He also served as the Minister for Industry and Supply in Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru's cabinet.
According to the BJP's official website, on the Delhi Pact with Liaquat Ali Khan issue, Mookerjee resigned from the Cabinet on April 6, 1950. Later on October 21, 1951, Mookerjee founded the Bharatiya Jana Sangh in Delhi and became its first president.
Mookerjee went to visit Kashmir in 1953 and was arrested on May 11. He died in detention on June 23, 1953. (ANI)
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hans India
13 minutes ago
- Hans India
Appeasement politics resurfaces in Karnataka
Among the southern states, Karnataka has been continually seeing some noise or the other related to minority affairs in the State. The moves to bring in any welfare measure to make the government schemes look more inclusive and lend a stamp of affirmative action on them have been critically examined and vehemently opposed by the Opposition parties (read BJP). With its earlier move to reserving four per cent of public contracts for minorities still stuck with the Governor, who has sought President's approval for it, it is indeed a daredevil move by the Siddaramaiah government to introduce another scheme wherein minorities are to be provided with 15 per cent reservation in housing, which translates to a five per cent hike over the existing quota. Buoyed by a series of missteps taken by the Congress government in the Dakshina Kannada region where Hindu activism has been on the boil for quite some time now, the BJP naturally flayed the recent measure as 'appeasement' and accused the government of prioritising religion over welfare. Even though the government quickly clarified that it was a scheme in existence since 2019 and not an arbitrary move, the BJP propaganda machinery right from Delhi to Bengaluru did not stop their attacks. Moreover, as the Minority and Housing Welfare Minister Zameer Ahmed Khan informed, it was a recommendation made by the coalition government headed by the then Chief Minister, HD Kumaraswamy. However, the chaos has not subsided. One may argue that the government is using these tactics to sidestep the terrible times they are going through currently with the Chinnaswamy Stadium stampede still going nowhere. Yet, the Congress has never shied away from its pro-minority moves even if it has run the risk of being called excessively partial towards their committed vote banks, which the state Muslims have often turned out to be. In a milieu where religion is often seen as a counter-weighing factor to political decision-making, taking on a fiery Opposition that has never shied away from its aggressive posturing and response has negated many a public welfare measure, which the Congress government proposed over the years. This has become evident in Karnataka, ever since BJP ascended to power in 2008 and has grown from strength to strength to become a formidable political force. If the GOP thinks it is assuring the Muslim voters that they are always there for them, it is an infructuous effort as the largest minority in the state would never veer towards the BJP. If one sees it as a regular administrative action, all the game plans they seem to be having are already common knowledge for their rivals, who have, over the years, unabashedly raised the communal temperature on the other side to keep their vote bank under control. The truth is that the Congress government, despite the regularly reported tiff between the top two – Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar – faces no immediate threat from the Opposition, which is in no position to dethrone them. Moreover, the Congress has, in the recent past, never won two terms at a stretch anywhere in India and so they would rather bumble along, managing the BJP and its allies, doing what it does best. Till it is time to face the elections again.
Hans India
28 minutes ago
- Hans India
BJP pays rich tributes to ideologue Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee
Hyderabad: Union Minister and BJP State President Kishan Reddy stated that after independence, the then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru compromised the country's future for temporary benefits regarding Article 370, effectively handing over a part of Kashmir to Pakistan. He addressed the media after paying tribute at an event organized by the BJP on Monday, saying, 'We have been celebrating the martyrdom of Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee for the last several years.' In 1951, Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee founded the Bharatiya Jana Sangh. He was a minister in the first Union Cabinet. However, resigned from the Nehru Cabinet to create the Bharatiya Jana Sangh and launched a movement to protect Kashmir by opposing Article 370. While the entire country displayed the Tricolour, Kashmir had its own flag. While India had one Prime Minister, Kashmir had its own Prime Minister. Although Ambedkar's Constitution was implemented across India, Jammu and Kashmir was granted special rights under Article 370. Dr Mukherjee criticized Nehru's selfish decisions, which he believed harmed the country, but Nehru ignored his warnings. He was the first to advocate for the repeal of Article 370 to make Jammu and Kashmir an integral part of India. Dr. Mukherjee posed the question: 'If Jammu and Kashmir is indeed an integral part of India, why should it have a separate Prime Minister and special rights?' He entered Jammu and Kashmir while strongly opposing the visa and permit system, with Atal Bihari Vajpayee supporting him. However, upon entering Jammu and Kashmir, he was arrested for not having a permit, and he later died under suspicious circumstances, leading to ongoing allegations of foul play. Dr Mukherjee was committed to safeguarding the nation's integrity, taking decisive action to realize this vision, ultimately leading to his sacrifice. His goal was realized by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2019 with the abrogation of Article 370, granting Dalits and women in Jammu and Kashmir equal rights as those in other parts of India. 'During the period Article 370 was in effect, 42,000 soldiers and civilians lost their lives in Jammu and Kashmir. The Congress party ignored these sacrifices and failed to protect the weaker sections of society. The situation was dire,' he added. In response, BJP national president Murli Manohar Joshi organized an Ekta Yatra from Kanyakumari to Kashmir to hoist the national flag at Lal Chowk, with Modi acting as the convener. After the Modi government took power, the situation in Jammu and Kashmir changed dramatically, culminating in the official hoisting of the national flag at Lal Chowk following the abrogation of Article 370. After independence, the Congress party attempted to divide the country along caste, religion, and language lines for electoral gain, neglecting Hindus to appease other religious groups. The Modi government, however, focused on suppressing terrorist activities and prioritized the integrity of the nation over party interests. The BJP has consistently responded proactively during times of crisis. When Indira Gandhi imposed the Emergency, she curtailed press freedoms, undermined democracy, and manipulated court rulings to maintain her power. During that time, the Jana Sangh was merged into the Janata Party, albeit reluctantly, to support civil rights and safeguard press freedoms. 'Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee provided us with extraordinary leadership, patriotism, and a noble ideology. Today, 140 million people are members of the BJP. In remembrance of his sacrifice, we continue to move forward along the path he set under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi,' said Kishan Reddy.
Hans India
43 minutes ago
- Hans India
Protests staged against neglect of public welfare
Mangaluru: The BJP organised a demonstration outside the Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) on Monday, denouncing the Congress-led Karnataka state government for what they described as policies detrimental to public welfare. The rally, marked by fervent speeches, drew participation from party leaders and the protest, MLA Vedavyas Kamath accused the state administration of failing to deliver critical welfare programs to vulnerable citizens, particularly the impoverished. He highlighted delays and denials in issuing Below Poverty Line (BPL) cards and accessing benefits under the Ayushman Bharat health scheme. 'The elderly are suffering immensely, with pensions under the Sandhya Suraksha scheme failing to reach them. This neglect has left senior citizens in distress,' Kamath stated, addressing the gathered Puttur, a BJP leader intensified the critique, alleging systemic corruption and a focus on appeasement politics at the expense of public needs. 'Essential services are not reaching the people. The government is preoccupied with minority appeasement, sidelining the broader welfare of Karnataka's citizens,' he claimed. Fellow party leader Premanand Shetty and other prominent figures echoed these sentiments, urging immediate action to address the grievances.
