Pathankot, July 5 (IANS) Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini said on Sunday that Bharatiya Jana Sangh founder Syama Prasad Mookerjee made the greatest sacrifice for the unity and integrity of the nation.

“The voice he (Syama Prasad Mookerjee) raised and the dream he envisioned were fulfilled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi through the abrogation of Article 370 from Jammu and Kashmir. Today, the Indian Tricolour is flying proudly from Kashmir to Kanyakumari,” the Chief Minister noted while addressing a gathering in Pathankot in Punjab on the occasion of the 125th birth anniversary of Syama Prasad Mookerjee.

Pathankot MLA Ashwani Sharma; former Deputy Speaker of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha, Dinesh Babbu; former MLA Seema Kumari and several senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders were present on the occasion.

Chief Minister Saini said that Pathankot “is not merely a city but the northern frontier of ‘Bharat Mata’. It is the land of brave warriors, martyrs, patriots, and great sons of the nation who sacrificed everything to protect the country’s borders. The soil here carries the fragrance of valour, and the air is filled with the spirit of patriotism”.

The Chief Minister added that history “remembers certain personalities not merely through books but through generations that adopt their ideals in life. Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee was one such visionary leader who dedicated his entire life to India’s unity, integrity, self-respect, and national consciousness. He was not only a leader of his time but also a guide for future generations”.

He said that Syama Prasad Mookerjee was not only a renowned educationist but also an outstanding statesman.

He added that at the age of just 33, Syama Prasad Mookerjee became the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Calcutta.

“The people of Bengal held him (Syama Prasad Mookerjee) in great esteem and affection and referred to him as the “Tiger of Bengal”,” the Chief Minister said.

He added that the mission for which Syama Prasad Mookerjee sacrificed his life was fulfilled on August 5, 2019, when Prime Minister Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah abrogated Article 370.

He said that over the last 11 years, millions of poor families have received permanent homes through various government initiatives.

“Through the Ayushman Bharat scheme, poor and needy citizens have gained access to treatment for serious illnesses.”

He added that in Haryana the scope of healthcare security has been expanded by integrating the Chirayu scheme with Ayushman Bharat.

–IANS

vg/khz