Yogi Adityanath (@myogiadityanath) posted on the social media platform X on Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee's birth anniversary, saying he paid floral tribute at the statue of Dr. Mukherjee in Lucknow today. The post described Dr. Mukherjee as a great son of Bharat Mata and the founding president of the Bharatiya Jana Sangh.
What the post said
The post stated that floral tributes were offered at Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee's statue in Lucknow on the occasion of his birth anniversary. It went on to say that it is a matter of great fortune that Dr. Mukherjee played a key role in protecting Bengal from Pakistan's influence. That part of the post trailed off along with a link, so the remainder of the sentence was not visible.
Who was Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee
Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee was an educationist and thinker who founded the Bharatiya Jana Sangh, the organisation that later became the ideological foundation of the Bharatiya Janata Party. Before that, between 1943 and 1946, he also served as president of the Akhil Bharatiya Hindu Mahasabha. He is remembered as a leader who dedicated his life to the unity and integrity of the country, and BJP leaders have often described his thinking as ahead of its time.
Recent tributes across the country
Several BJP leaders have recently paid tribute to Dr. Mukherjee. In Jharkhand, Raghuvar Das said Dr. Mukherjee's ideas still guide nation building today. Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini said Dr. Mukherjee made the biggest sacrifice for the country's unity and integrity. In Mumbai, BJP leader Dilip Ghosh said it was because of Dr. Mukherjee's struggle that West Bengal was saved, and he demanded that Mukherjee be conferred the Bharat Ratna.
The Article 370 connection
BJP leaders have also said that the 2019 decision to abrogate Article 370 fulfilled Dr. Mukherjee's dream of a uniform constitutional system across the country. Yogi Adityanath himself has previously said that Dr. Mukherjee's sacrifice anniversary shows the dream of one constitution for the country coming true.
