Key Takeaways
- The Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath emphasized Dr Mukherjee’s dedication to India and Indianism.
- Dr Mukherjee’s opposition to Article 370 is highlighted as a historic stance.
- PM Modi’s abrogation of Article 370 is presented as fulfilling Mukherjee’s vision.
- The tribute underscores Dr Mukherjee’s role as a freedom fighter and educationist.
Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Thursday said that Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee was devoted to India and Indianism.
He added that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is carrying forward his legacy.
Paying floral tribute to Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee’s statue on the occasion of his 123rd birth anniversary at Civil Hospital on Park Road, Yogi said that the country will always remember the sacrifices made by Dr Mukherjee for the unity and integrity of India. He also described Dr Mukherjee as a guiding light for India’s industrial and food policies.
He said that when India’s first government after independence led by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru adopted appeasement as a policy, Dr Mukherjee resigned from the cabinet and formed Jan Sangh. He said that the differences between Dr Mukherjee and Pandit Nehru also came to the fore when the then-Nehru government attempted to play havoc with the unity and security of the country by forcibly adding Article 370 to the Indian Constitution.
The CM said that Dr Mukherjee strongly opposed it and gave the slogan of ‘Ek desh mein do Pradhan, do Vidhan aur do Nishan nahi chalenge’ ( One country can’t have two Prime Ministers, two Constitutions and two national emblems).
Speaking of Dr Mukherjee’s significant role in the freedom movement as a prominent freedom fighter, great patriot and an eminent educationist, he said that he served as the Vice-Chancellor of Calcutta University and contributed significantly to the field of education at the age of just 33.
He said, “Dr Mukherjee presented an example of service to humanity during the devastating famine in Bengal before independence.”
Yogi said that the ideology of Dr Mukherjee towards India is being implemented effectively under the leadership of PM Modi. “The long-standing issue of Article 370, which had been in effect since 1952-1953, was abrogated by PM Modi on August 5, 2019, and the democratic process was advanced in Jammu and Kashmir. Today, Jammu and Kashmir is touching new heights of development,” he said.
Deputy CM Brajesh Pathak, Jal Shakti Minister Swatantra Dev Singh, state president of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Chaudhary Bhupendra Singh and BJP workers were present at the ceremony.
