Lucknow, July 6: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath paid rich tributes to Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee on his 125th birth anniversary during a solemn ceremony at the Civil Hospital on Monday. The Chief Minister offered floral tributes and garlanded the statue of the eminent freedom fighter, educationist, and India’s first Minister for Industry and Supply, acknowledging his foundational role in safeguarding the unity of the nation.
Addressing the gathering, the Chief Minister asserted that the long-standing vision of the nationalist leader regarding Jammu and Kashmir was realized under the current Union government. Yogi Adityanath stated, “Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the government fulfilled Dr. Mookerjee’s dream by abrogating Article 370 in Kashmir in 2019, and the Constitution framed by Babasaheb Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar was also effectively implemented in Kashmir.” He maintained that Dr. Mookerjee had famously renounced the politics of power and stepped down from the union cabinet to oppose administrative policies that he felt compromised national integration, ultimately dedicating his life to the cause.
The Chief Minister declared that the existence of present-day West Bengal as an integral part of India remains a testament to the resolute stand taken by Dr. Mookerjee during the partition era. He affirmed that when historical efforts were underway to alienate the region, the iconic leader stood firmly against those attempts. Furthermore, the Chief Minister noted that the current double-engine administration remains actively dedicated to the restoration and preservation of various historical sites associated with the leader’s legacy.
Reflecting on his early life and academic brilliance, Yogi Adityanath mentioned that Dr. Mookerjee, born in Bengal in 1901, possessed an exemplary track record as an educationist before entering public service. He rendered significant services as the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Calcutta at the young age of 33, and later prioritized robust industrial and food policies to guide independent India toward self-reliance.
The commemorative event was attended by several prominent dignitaries, including Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak, alongside state ministers Surya Pratap Shahi, Swatantra Dev Singh, and Kapil Dev Agarwal. Legislative assembly member Neeraj Bora, Member of the Legislative Council Mukesh Sharma, former lawmaker Suresh Tiwari, and BJP Metropolitan President Anand Dwivedi were also present to pay their respects.
