THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU

BHBANESWAR, JUNE 23, 2026

Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Tuesday called upon the youth of Odisha to draw inspiration from the “Nation First” philosophy of Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee and dedicate themselves to building a strong, prosperous and united Odisha as well as a developed India.

Addressing the state-level observance of the martyrdom day of Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee at Jayadev Bhawan in Bhubaneswar, the Chief Minister said that the younger generation must imbibe the ideals of one of India’s most distinguished sons and work tirelessly to strengthen national unity, integrity and progress.

Paying rich tributes to Dr. Mookerjee, Majhi highlighted his extraordinary contributions to education and nation-building. He noted that at the age of just 33, Dr. Mookerjee became the youngest Vice-Chancellor of the University of Calcutta and introduced transformative reforms in the education sector. Referring to his role in safeguarding India’s unity and integrity, the Chief Minister recalled Dr. Mookerjee’s historic slogan during the Jammu and Kashmir movement — “Ek Desh Mein Do Vidhan, Do Pradhan, Do Nishan Nahi Chalenge” (One nation cannot have two constitutions, two prime ministers and two flags) — which, he said, became a powerful symbol of national integration.

The Chief Minister further said that the imposition of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir due to what he termed the Congress party’s appeasement politics and policy failures had caused immense suffering for decades, forcing countless innocent people to lose their lives and many others to live like refugees in their own country. He described as unfortunate the fact that no investigation was conducted by the then Congress government into the circumstances surrounding Dr. Mookerjee’s death in custody after he entered Kashmir without a permit and was arrested.

Lauding the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Majhi said the abrogation of Article 370 on August 5, 2019, fulfilled Dr. Mookerjee’s long-cherished vision and represented the most fitting tribute to his sacrifice. He remarked that today, from Kashmir to Kanyakumari, one Constitution and one Tricolour symbolize the unity and strength of India.

The Chief Minister also highlighted that the Bharatiya Jana Sangh, founded by Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee on October 21, 1951, has evolved into the world’s largest political party, the Bharatiya Janata Party, whose guiding principle, he said, is cultural nationalism.

Majhi asserted that while previous governments had neglected the observance of Dr. Mookerjee’s martyrdom day, the present government considers it a national duty to commemorate his contributions. He urged citizens, particularly the youth, to remain vigilant against corrupt, anti-national and dynastic forces that, he said, weaken both the state and the nation.

Speaking on the occasion, Odisha Legislative Assembly Speaker Surama Padhy described Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee as the foremost torchbearer of nationalist thought in post-Independence India. She said he embodied true patriotism and loved the nation above party lines and political considerations.

Former Rajya Sabha MP Dushmanta Kumar Gautam and Ekamra MLA Babu Singh also addressed the gathering and paid tribute to Dr. Mookerjee’s legacy. Additional Chief Secretary of the Information and Public Relations Department, Hemant Sharma, delivered the welcome address at the programme.