Bengaluru: The 66th death anniversary of Jana Sangh founder Syama Prasad Mookerjee was held yesterday, in which former Karnataka Chief Minister and BJP leader B S Yeddyurappa took part.
Paying tributes to Mookerjee, who was the first union industries minister, the BJP chief said, “Mookerjee struggled inside and outside Parliament, seeking abrogation of Article 370.” He further raised doubts on the mysterious death of the leader and accused the Congress government headed by Jawarhalal Nehru, who was in power at that time, for not investigating it even after receiving request from his family.
In 1953, Mookerjee was taken in police custody entering Srinagar after defying the requirement for obtaining a permit for doing so. He later died while in custody.
Congress government had said he had died due to medical reasons, however Jana Sangh members suspected foul play and sought a probe into the mysterious death.
Yeddyurappa accused Nehru of victimising Mookerjee just like he had done to Dr B R Ambedkar and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.
He further said everyone believed that the NDA government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah would take a definite decision on revocation of Article 370.
Article 370 grants special status to Jammu and Kashmir and limits Parliament’s power to make laws concerning the State.