Lucknow

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday paid homage to Bharatiya Jana Sangh founder Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee on his 125th birth anniversary, describing him as a distinguished freedom fighter, educationist and a strong advocate of India's unity and territorial integrity.

Speaking at a commemorative programme, Adityanath said Mookerjee's role in preserving national unity and his opposition to the special constitutional status of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir would remain an enduring part of India's history.

"Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee was a great son of Bharat Mata, an eminent freedom fighter, an accomplished educationist, and independent India's first Minister for Industry and Supply. On the occasion of his 125th birth anniversary, I offer my heartfelt floral tributes to him on behalf of the people of Uttar Pradesh," the chief minister said.

Adityanath noted that Mookerjee began his professional life as a teacher before becoming the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Calcutta at the age of 33. He also credited him with playing an important role in ensuring that West Bengal remained within the Indian Union during the Partition.

The chief minister said Mookerjee resigned from Jawaharlal Nehru's cabinet over differences on what he termed the government's "appeasement policy" and subsequently established the Bharatiya Jana Sangh.

Referring to Mookerjee's opposition to the permit system in Jammu and Kashmir, Adityanath recalled his well-known slogan: "Ek desh mein do Vidhan, do Pradhan aur do Nishan nahin chalenge" (One nation cannot have two constitutions, two prime ministers and two flags).

He said Mookerjee was arrested during his movement in Jammu and Kashmir, where he died in 1953, and described him as a leading voice against Article 370 and policies that, according to him, undermined the country's unity.

Adityanath further asserted that Mookerjee's vision was fulfilled when the BJP-led central government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi abrogated Article 370 in 2019, paving the way for the full implementation of the Constitution drafted by B.R. Ambedkar in Jammu and Kashmir.