politics

Amit Shah lays foundation for 125-foot statue of Syama Prasad Mookerjee in Kolkata, lauds BJP government in West Bengal

Published on: 06 Jul 2026, 10:03 PM

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday laid the foundation stone for a 125-foot statue of Syama Prasad Mookerjee, the founder of the Bharatiya Jana Sangh, in Kolkata's New Town area. The event coincided with Mookerjee's 125th birth anniversary.

Addressing a commemorative programme, Shah expressed satisfaction that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is in power in West Bengal. He cited the abrogation of Article 370, which granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir, as a fulfillment of a pledge by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. 'Today, Kashmir is an integral part of India,' Shah said.

Shah also highlighted several initiatives by the West Bengal government led by Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, including implementation of the Annapurna Yojana, allocation of land to the Border Security Force (BSF), and free travel for women in government buses. 'We are fulfilling the promises we made in our Sankalp Patra during the elections,' he stated.

Prime Minister Modi, addressing the event via video message, described Mookerjee as a visionary, patriot, and champion of national unity. 'Today, the nation and West Bengal are remembering a great son of the soil, a great patriot who was dedicated to the integrity of India,' Modi said.

The 125-foot statue is intended as a tribute to Mookerjee's enduring legacy. The event drew attention to the BJP's focus on West Bengal, a state where the party has been in power since 2021 after defeating the Trinamool Congress.

Source: The Hindu

Latest in Politics 10

politics

Congress MLAs boycott Rajasthan Assembly monsoon session opening over school entry rules

Congress legislators boycotted the first day of Rajasthan's monsoon session, protesting the government's decision to restrict outsiders in government schools. They staged a dharna outside the Assembly and demanded the education minister's resignation.

The Hindu 21 Aug 2026, 01:35 AM

politics

New Parliament building lacks intimacy, says Tharoor; MPs debate design and democracy

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor criticised the new Parliament building as a 'soulless conference centre', saying its design discourages interaction and mirrors political polarisation. Rajya Sabha MP John Brittas also questioned the building's aesthetics and cost transparency, sparking debate on the link between architecture and democratic discourse.

The Hindu 21 Aug 2026, 12:58 AM

politics

Caste Survey Report Takes Centre Stage in Legislative Council Tributes to Devaraja Urs

In a rare smooth session of the Karnataka Legislative Council, members paid tributes to former CM D. Devaraja Urs, with the caste survey report taking centre stage. A BJP legislator urged the government to implement the latest backward classes commission report, while Minister Yathindra Siddaramaiah recalled past survey efforts.

The Hindu 20 Aug 2026, 06:16 PM

politics

Cabinet Approves High Court Bench in Ladakh to Improve Access to Justice

The Union Cabinet has approved a High Court Bench in Ladakh to improve access to justice, Home Minister Amit Shah announced. The move comes amid ongoing demands from local bodies for constitutional safeguards and faster legal recourse in the Union Territory.

The Hindu 20 Aug 2026, 05:07 PM

politics

Opposition questions RSS links in NCERT textbook committee

Opposition parties and student organisations have criticised the NCERT's reconstituted political science textbook team, alleging that members with RSS and BJP links could compromise the independence of educational content. The NCERT has defended the mandate, which includes cultural rootedness and Indian knowledge systems.

The Hindu 20 Aug 2026, 05:23 PM

politics

Manipur Census: Congress urges postponement amid displacement, violence

Congress has demanded the postponement of the Census in Manipur, citing ongoing violence and the displacement of nearly 60,000 people. MP A. Bimol Akoijam said accurate enumeration is impossible and called for the NRC process to be completed first.

The Hindu 20 Aug 2026, 05:24 PM

politics

Protect Telangana's Krishna water rights, Deputy CM tells Centre at Zonal Council meet

Telangana Deputy CM Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka urged the Centre at the Southern Zonal Council meeting to protect the State's rights over Krishna waters and support major irrigation projects. He called for legal resolution of inter-State disputes and closure of pending issues under the AP Reorganisation Act.

The Hindu 20 Aug 2026, 03:54 PM

politics

CPI(M) urges cancellation of Google data centre project in Visakhapatnam citing water stress

CPI(M) leader V. Srinivasa Rao has demanded cancellation of the proposed Google data centre at Mudasarlova, Visakhapatnam, citing water scarcity and improper land allocation. He questioned the government's decision to supply Godavari water to the project while drinking water needs remain unmet.

The Hindu 20 Aug 2026, 03:21 PM

politics

ECI's electoral roll revision follows due legal process, says Union Minister in Rajya Sabha

Union Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal informed the Rajya Sabha that the Election Commission's Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls is conducted with due diligence and without prejudice to any community. He detailed the quality checks and grievance redressal mechanisms in response to concerns raised by a UN Special Rapporteur over deletions in West Bengal.

The Hindu 20 Aug 2026, 02:19 PM

politics

Kerala municipality crisis: Rebel Congress councillors' public spat exposes fragile alliance

Rebel Congress councillors in Kerala's Pala municipality publicly clashed after helping the LDF take power, revealing deep internal divisions. The spat and legal petitions raise questions over the stability of the new civic body leadership.

The Hindu 20 Aug 2026, 02:19 PM

→ View All Politics News