Union Home Minister Amit Shah has asserted that Kashmir is an integral part of India because of the Jan Sangh founder, Syama Prasad Mookerjee. Shah made this statement on Mookerjee's birth anniversary,commemorating his contributions and sacrifices to the nation, especially concerning Jammu and Kashmir.
Mookerjee, born on July 6, 1901, in Calcutta, was a multifaceted personality: a patriot, educationist, parliamentarian, and humanitarian. He came from a family with a strong legacy of learning and nationalism; his father, Sir Ashutosh Mookerjee, was the Vice-Chancellor of Calcutta University and a Judge of the Calcutta High Court. Syama Prasad Mookerjee began his political journey early, getting elected to the Legislative Council of Bengal as a Congress candidate representing Calcutta University.
Mookerjee’s political career saw him serve as the President of the Akhil Bharatiya Hindu Mahasabha from 1943 to 1946. He was later invited by Jawaharlal Nehru to join the interim cabinet as Minister for Industry and Supply. However, ideological differences led to his resignation from Nehru's cabinet. Subsequently, in 1951, with the help of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, he founded the Bharatiya Jana Sangh, which is the ideological parent organization of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Mookerjee strongly opposed the special status and autonomy granted to Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370 of the Indian Constitution. He advocated for the complete integration of Jammu and Kashmir with the rest of India. Mookerjee termed the arrangements under Article 370 as the "Balkanization of India". He famously said, "Ek desh mein do Vidhan, do Pradhan aur Do Nishan nahi chalenge" (A single country can't have two constitutions, two prime ministers, and two national emblems).
In 1953, Mookerjee went to visit Kashmir and was arrested on May 11 for crossing the border of the state. He died while in detention on June 23, 1953. Many believe that his death was part of a wider conspiracy to suppress the movement for Kashmir's complete integration with India.
Amit Shah emphasized Mookerjee's slogan of "Ek desh mein do Vidhan, do Pradhan aur Do Nishan nahi chalenge," stating that he sacrificed himself for Kashmir. Shah credited Mookerjee and Swami Pranavananda for ensuring West Bengal remained a part of India. He noted that Mookerjee launched a movement across Bengal, which led to the division of Bengal and the creation of West Bengal as part of India.
Shah highlighted that Mookerjee resigned from Jawaharlal Nehru's Council of Ministers in protest against the policy of appeasement. He formed the Bharatiya Jana Sangh, a party dedicated to India's soil, culture, and interests. Shah proudly stated that the party Mookerjee started with just 10 members has now become the world's largest political party, with a membership of 12 crore people.
Other leaders have also echoed similar sentiments. Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha attended the 125th Birth Anniversary celebration of Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee in Srinagar and stated that Mookerjee sacrificed his life for the unification of Jammu and Kashmir with India. Sinha said that Mookerjee was a proponent of "One Nation, One Constitution" and opposed Article 370. Shivraj Singh Chouhan also commemorated Mookerjee's birth anniversary by highlighting his enduring legacy of national unity.
Amit Shah's statement underscores the importance of Syama Prasad Mookerjee's role in the complete integration of Kashmir into India. His efforts and sacrifices are remembered as pivotal in shaping India's territorial integrity and national identity.
