Chandigarh, July 6:- Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini said that the life of great freedom fighter and founder of the Bharatiya Jana Sangh, Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee, symbolizes national service, sacrifice and unwavering principles. He said that Dr. Mookerjee’s birth anniversary is not only an occasion to remember him but also an opportunity to follow the path shown by him and inspire the younger generation through his ideals and values.
The Chief Minister was addressing the "Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee 125th Commemoration Fortnight" programme in Ambala. Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare Jagat Prakash Nadda also attended the event.
On the occasion, Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini announced that the Science Centre being constructed in Ambala at a cost of ?85 crore will be named after Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee. He also announced that a statue of Dr. Mookerjee would be installed near the under-construction Shaheed Memorial. Earlier, the Chief Minister, Union Minister J.P. Nadda, BJP State President Dr. Archana Gupta, and BJP Parliamentary Board Member Sudha Yadav paid floral tributes to Dr. Mookerjee.
Addressing the gathering, the Chief Minister said that the two-year-long birth anniversary celebrations of Dr. Mookerjee, which began last year, will continue until July 2027. He described the campaign as a national effort to take Dr. Mookerjee’s thoughts and ideals to every household while expressing the nation’s gratitude for his contributions.
He said that Dr. Mookerjee’s personality reflected a rare combination of knowledge, action and patriotism. Born on July 6, 1901, in Kolkata, he inherited scholarship and a spirit of national service from his father, Sir Ashutosh Mookerjee, a renowned educationist. At the age of just 33, he became the youngest Vice-Chancellor of the University of Calcutta. He later served as a member of the Constituent Assembly and as Independent India’s first Minister for Industry and Supply.
The Chief Minister said Dr. Mookerjee’s political career was driven not by the pursuit of power but by his commitment to service and principles. When matters of national interest arose, he resigned from the Union Cabinet on April 19, 1950. He later met RSS chief M.S. Golwalkar and, along with Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya, founded the Bharatiya Jana Sangh, which laid the foundation for today’s Bharatiya Janata Party.
Saini said Ambala shares a historic connection with Dr. Mookerjee’s life. On May 8, 1953, while travelling to Jammu and Kashmir, Dr. Mookerjee sent a message from Ambala Railway Station to the then Prime Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Sheikh Abdullah, stating that he was entering Jammu without a permit to assess the situation and work for peace.
He said that although Dr. Mookerjee was officially stopped at the Ravi River bridge from entering Jammu and Kashmir, he remained firm in his resolve and entered the state without a permit. He was subsequently arrested and detained near Srinagar, where he later passed away during detention. The Chief Minister described his sacrifice as one of the greatest sacrifices made for India's unity and integrity.
He further said that Dr. Mookerjee had raised the slogan, "One nation cannot have two constitutions, two flags and two prime ministers." He added that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Dr. Mookerjee’s vision was fulfilled, and his birth anniversary continues to inspire people to place national interest above everything else. He said the government is committed to working towards the goal of building a Developed India by 2047 under Prime Minister Modi’s leadership.
**‘Make in India, New Education Policy and Atmanirbhar Bharat reflect Dr. Mookerjee’s nationalist vision’: J.P. Nadda**
Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda said Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee was not merely a historical figure but the architect of the vision of "One India, Great India." He devoted his entire life to national unity, integrity and cultural nationalism, and under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, his ideology is being implemented on the ground.
Nadda said Dr. Mookerjee founded the Bharatiya Jana Sangh on October 21, 1951, providing the country with a strong ideological alternative. Today, he said, the BJP has become the world’s largest political party, and the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is serving people across most parts of the country.
He recalled Dr. Mookerjee’s slogan, "No two constitutions, two prime ministers or two flags in one nation," and said he made the supreme sacrifice for the complete integration of Jammu and Kashmir. He added that the abrogation of Article 370 on August 5, 2019, under Prime Minister Modi fulfilled Dr. Mookerjee’s vision.
The Union Minister further said that Dr. Mookerjee had advocated citizenship for refugees who migrated from East Pakistan due to religious persecution. According to him, the implementation of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) by the Modi government fulfilled that vision as well.
He said initiatives such as Make in India, defence manufacturing, semiconductor manufacturing, the National Education Policy (NEP) and Atmanirbhar Bharat reflect Dr. Mookerjee’s nationalist vision. He described the NEP as a historic reform aimed at making education more accessible, affordable, flexible and rooted in the mother tongue.
**Nadda praises Haryana’s pace of development**
Praising the double-engine government in Haryana led by Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, J.P. Nadda highlighted several major development projects in the state, including the Deenbandhu Chhotu Ram Thermal Power Plant in Yamunanagar, the Dwarka Expressway, the Rewari Bypass, expansion of national highways, railway infrastructure projects and Maruti Suzuki’s manufacturing facility at Kharkhoda.
He also appreciated Haryana’s transparent recruitment system, saying thousands of youth have secured government jobs on merit. He highlighted initiatives related to women’s welfare, healthcare, infrastructure development, the Lado Lakshmi Yojana, LPG cylinders at ?500 for eligible families, and procurement of farmers’ crops at the Minimum Support Price (MSP). He added that the expansion of AIIMS facilities and cancer treatment infrastructure has significantly strengthened healthcare services in the state.
Nadda also said that Dr. Mookerjee had played a historic role in ensuring that West Bengal remained part of India. Without his efforts, he said, the state's present-day identity would not have been possible. He urged every citizen to contribute towards building a Developed India and Self-Reliant India, calling it the true tribute to Dr. Mookerjee.
He also welcomed Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini’s announcement to name Ambala’s upcoming Science Centre after Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee and to install his grand statue there, congratulating the Chief Minister for the decision.
**Dr. Mookerjee was a pioneer of India’s industrial revolution: Dr. Archana Gupta**
Addressing the gathering, BJP Haryana State President Dr. Archana Gupta said Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee sacrificed his life for national unity and gave India the vision of self-reliance. She noted that as Independent India’s first Minister for Industry and Supply, he was known for his integrity, commitment and sense of responsibility.
She said Dr. Mookerjee focused on four major areas—expansion of the railway network, development of airports, strengthening defence manufacturing and promotion of nuclear energy—and added that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is carrying forward the same vision today.
Among those present were BJP Parliamentary Board Member Sudha Yadav, senior leader Banto Kataria, State Coordinator Sandeep Joshi, District President Mandeep Rana, former Minister Aseem Goel, Mayor Akshita Saini, former MLA Pawan Saini, Santosh Sarwan, and several other dignitaries.