On death anniversary, Yogi pays tribute to Syama Prasad Mukherjee
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Lucknow: To mark the death anniversary of Dr Syama Prasad Mukherjee, which is observed as
Balidan Diwas
, chief minister
Yogi Adityanath
paid floral tributes to the former union cabinet minister. He remembered him as a "great son of Bharat Mata, a distinguished educationist, freedom fighter, and the visionary behind the idea of Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat".
Crediting Mukherjee, the founder and first President of the Bharatiya Jana Sangh, for laying the foundation for a new political direction in independent India, Yogi Adityanath said that as a cabinet minister, Mukherjee played a key role in shaping the country's industrial policy.
"He later resigned from the Nehru govt in protest against policies he believed threatened national unity and integrity. Following the first general elections in 1952, the then govt undermined national unity by introducing Article 370 and implementing a permit system in Jammu and Kashmir.
In response, Dr Mukherjee boldly entered Kashmir, asserting the principle of 'Ek Pradhan, Ek Vidhan, Ek Nishan'. He was arrested and later sacrificed his life in custody on June 23, 1953," the CM said.
The CM added that Mukherjee's dream of a united India was realised 65 years later when PM Narendra Modi abrogated Article 370 from Kashmir. "Now, Jammu and Kashmir is truly experiencing the spirit of the Indian Constitution and its democratic values. The abrogation of Article 370 stands as a tribute by the BJP and PM Modi to the ultimate sacrifice of Dr Mukherjee,"
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