Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Tuesday called upon the youth to work towards building a strong, prosperous and united nation, drawing inspiration from the “Nation First” ideals of Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee.
Addressing a state-level programme organised at Jayadev Bhawan on the occasion of Dr. Mookerjee’s Martyrdom Day, Majhi highlighted the nationalist leader’s contributions to education and national integration and urged the younger generation to dedicate themselves to nation-building.
The Chief Minister said Dr. Mookerjee introduced significant reforms in higher education as the youngest Vice-Chancellor of Calcutta University at the age of 33. Referring to his role in the Jammu and Kashmir movement, Majhi said Mookerjee’s slogan, “Ek desh mein do Vidhan, do Pradhan, do Nishan nahin chalenge,” became a rallying call for national unity.
Majhi alleged that Article 370, introduced under the Congress government, had adverse consequences for Jammu and Kashmir and said Mookerjee’s death in custody after entering the region without a permit remains a tragic chapter in the country’s history.
Praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Chief Minister said the abrogation of Article 370 on August 5, 2019 fulfilled Mookerjee’s unfinished dream and served as a true tribute to his legacy. He said the entire country today functions under one Constitution and one national flag.
Majhi also noted that the Bharatiya Jana Sangh, founded by Mookerjee in 1951, has evolved into the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which he described as the world’s largest political party rooted in the ideology of cultural nationalism.
Stating that previous governments had neglected the observance of Mookerjee’s martyrdom day, the Chief Minister said the present government considers it a national duty to commemorate the occasion. He also called for vigilance against corruption, anti-national activities and dynastic politics.
Speaking on the occasion, Odisha Legislative Assembly Speaker Surama Padhi described Dr. Mookerjee as a prominent nationalist leader who propagated the ideals of patriotism in post-Independence India and transcended political divisions in his commitment to the nation.
Former Rajya Sabha member Dushyant Kumar Gautam, Ekamra MLA Babu Singh and other dignitaries also addressed the gathering. Additional Chief Secretary of the Information and Public Relations Department Hemant Sharma delivered the welcome address.
