Tripura CM lays foundation stone for 13-foot bronze statue of Syama Prasad Mookerjee

Agartala, Jul 6 (PTI) Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha on Monday laid the foundation stone for a 13-foot bronze statue of Bharatiya Jana Sangh (BJS) founder Syama Prasad Mookerjee here to honour his sacrifices. Speaking at the programme at Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee Hall (formerly known as Town Hall) here, he alleged that before 2014, there had been a deliberate attempt to overlook Mookerjee's contributions, but the scenario changed after Narendra Modi became the prime minister of the country. "When the Agartala Municipal Corporation (AMC) decided to rename the Town Hall after Dr Mookerjee, the opposition flagged its deep concern but our government boldly decided to rename Town Hall after the person who sacrificed his life for India," he said. Saha said Modi has been fulfilling Mookerjee's dreams from scrapping Article 370 and 35A from Jammu and Kashmir to the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and 'atmanirbharta' (self-reliance). "Many of us had apprehended that there would be bloodshed in the country if Article 370 and 35A were abrogated, but nothing happened. It was Dr Mookerjee who pushed the concept but could not succeed in its implementation," he said. Praising the far-reaching ideals of the BJS founder, the chief minister said he had expressed apprehension over the safety and security of minorities in East Pakistan and West Pakistan after Partition. "The CAA was modelled and executed into an Act to address Dr Mookerjee's concern about the safety and security of minorities residing in our two neighbours. Modiji has also fulfilled Dr Mookerjee's dream," he said. The mission for attaining self-reliance was actually called for by Dr Mookerjee to reduce dependence on other countries, he said, adding that the country under Modi's leadership has achieved many things under the slogan of 'Atmanirbhar Bharat'. "Now, India exports arms and other defence equipment to other nations and shares technologies with friendly countries for the benefit of mankind," he added. PTI PS ACD