PM Modi, Shah, Nadda pay tribute to Syama Prasad Mookerjee on death anniversary

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, along with top BJP leaders, paid tribute to Syama Prasad Mookerjee on his death anniversary on Sunday.

PM called Mookerjee a great son of the country, an eminent thinker and educationist.

Syama Prasad Mookerjee was the founder of Bharatiya Jana Sangh, the ideological parent organisation of the BJP.

In a post on X, PM wrote, "Respectful tributes to the great son of the country, eminent thinker and educationist Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee on his martyrdom day. He dedicated his life in the service of Mother India. His dynamic personality will continue to inspire every generation of the country."

Home Minister Amit Shah also remembered Mookerjee on his martyrdom day and said, "Tribute to Jan Sangh founder Syama Prasad Mookerjee on his martyrdom day, who fought all his life for the unity, integrity and self-respect of the country."

"Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee gave the supreme sacrifice in the struggle to make Jammu and Kashmir an integral part of the country by giving the slogan of 'Ek Nishan, Ek Vidhan, Ek Pradhan'. He played an important role in the ideological and practical fight to keep West Bengal a part of India. As a member of the Constituent Assembly, he gave transformative suggestions regarding language and culture. He gave alternative ideas to the people of the country by establishing the Jana Sangh. This star of Indian culture will always remain bright and will guide the future generations on the path of nation first," said Shah.

BJP president JP Nadda also paid floral tributes to Mookerjee at BJP headquarters in Delhi and distributed plant saplings among party workers.

"I pay my heartfelt tributes to the founder of Bharatiya Jana Sangh, architect of cultural nationalism and national unity, eminent thinker and educationist, revered Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee on his martyrdom day, said Nadda in a post on X.

"He dedicated his entire life to the progress and glory of the nation. His work for protecting India's sovereignty and for the world of education is unforgettable. Dr Syama Prasad ji's sacrifice and dedication will continue to inspire every Indian to put the nation first and to sacrifice everything," he added.

Mookerjee was the founder of Bharatiya Jana Sangh. 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 issue of the Delhi pact with Likayat Ali Khan, 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 under detention on June 23, 1953.