Modi, Shah Honour Syama Prasad Mookerjee, Link Article 370 Move to His Vision

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said the abrogation of Article 370 had fulfilled the dream of Bharatiya Jana Sangh founder Syama Prasad Mookerjee. Speaking via video message at a commemorative programme for Mookerjee's 125th birth anniversary, Modi described him as a visionary and champion of national unity. Union Home Minister Amit Shah, attending the event in Kolkata, laid the foundation stone for a 125-foot statue of Mookerjee.

Modi drew direct ideological links between Mookerjee's political struggles and several policy decisions of the Bharatiya Janata Party, including the revocation of Jammu and Kashmir's special status in August 2019. 'By abrogating Article 370, we have fulfilled the dream of Syama Prasad Mookerjee,' Modi said.

Recalling Mookerjee's slogan 'Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat,' Modi noted that Mookerjee had given the nation the mantra that 'one country cannot have two constitutions, two heads and two symbols.' Modi added, 'This was not merely a slogan; it was a call for equal rights, an equal Constitution and an equal national consciousness.'

Highlighting Mookerjee's role during the Partition of India, Modi said there had been attempts to include the entire Bengal province into Pakistan, but Mookerjee mobilised public opinion against it, ensuring Bengal remained part of India. Modi quoted Mookerjee as saying, 'Congress divided the country, and I divided Pakistan.'

Tracing the evolution of the Jana Sangh into the BJP, Modi said the party had grown into the world's largest democratic force while remaining rooted in its founder's principles. He expressed confidence that future generations would acknowledge Mookerjee's contribution.

At the event in Kolkata's Milan Mela Prangan, Amit Shah noted that he had called West Bengal Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari to urge the erection of Mookerjee's statue in his birthplace and declare July 6 a public holiday. Shah said he was grateful that Adhikari complied. 'It is 63 years after Mookerjee's death that his statue is being erected in his birth place. It is an emotional day for people like us,' Shah said.

Shah also praised Adhikari for fulfilling promises from the BJP's election manifesto, including the Annapurna Yojana, free bus rides for women, implementation of Ayushman Bharat, handover of border land for fencing, and the passage of the Maintenance of Public Order (Amendment) Bill, 2026 to tackle lawlessness.