New Delhi, July 6 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday paid tributes to Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee, the founder of Bharatiya Jana Sangh, on his birth anniversary.

“Respectful tributes to Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee on his birth anniversary, who made India proud with his strong nationalist views. His dedication and sacrifice for the motherland will always inspire the citizens of the country,” said the Prime Minister in a post on X.

As the nation observes his birth anniversary, here is an account of how PM Modi not only championed his ideals but also realised his dream of ‘One Nation’.

Modi Archive, a popular X handle, on Saturday, shared information on PM Modi steadfastly upholding Mookerjee’s beliefs and ardently pursuing his efforts to unify the country. It accentuates the special tribute paid by PM Modi to the Bharatiya Jan Sangh founder in 2013.

It informs that after becoming BJP’s campaign committee chairman for the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, PM Modi led his first rally at the spot where Mookerjee was arrested in 1953. This event also marked Mookerjee’s ‘Balidan Diwas.’

The public rally was held in Punjab’s Pathankot, the very location where the Bharatiya Jana Sangh founder was arrested in 1953 and kept in custody for 45 days. His sudden death in prison stunned the nation, leading to the abolition of the Permit System in J&K, shortly thereafter.

Mookerjee, a strong proponent of United India, passed away while fighting for the integration of Jammu and Kashmir with the rest of the nation.

In 2019, the Modi government actualised Syama Prasad Mookerjee’s vision by revoking Article 370, thereby paving the way for the revocation of its special status. A few months later, on January 1, 2020, the government took another historic step by abolishing the last traces of Jammu and Kashmir’s enforced autonomy, thereby locking Mookerjee’s dream of a fully integrated India.

Also, the government ceased operations at the Lakhanpur Toll Plaza in Pathankot, the very site where Mookerjee was arrested, a location signifying the artificial legal barrier between J&K and the rest of India.

–IANS

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Hubballi, (Karnataka) July 6 (IANS) Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Pralhad Joshi, on Saturday demanded a probe into bomb threats allegedly issued to the Sri Rama Sena for opening helplines for victims of ‘love jihad’.

Speaking to reporters in Hubballi on Saturday, Joshi said, “The closure of Facebook accounts of Sri Rama Sena is wrong. It is also wrong to issue bomb threats. Violence isn’t right always. The state government should investigate the matter.”

Earlier, addressing the media, Gangadhar Kulkarni, a senior Sri Rama Sena leader stated that after they began a campaign against ‘love jihad’ by opening a helpline on May 29, bomb threats and life threats were given.

The Sena has got more than 170 such calls already and the threat calls are made through internet, he alleged.

The Facebook accounts of all Sri Rama Sena members and the main page have been closed for the last two days, Kulkarni alleged.

“We don’t know whether this was done by jihadis or the government. This has been done to prevent the awareness campaign on love jihad by us,” Kulkarni slammed.

“All Facebook accounts should be allowed to operate, failing which, statewide protests would be launched,” Kulkarni warned.

–IANS

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Srinagar, July 6 (IANS) An Army soldier has died in an encounter between the security forces and the terrorists in Jammu & Kashmir’s Kulgam district on Saturday.

Officials said that an Army soldier, injured during the encounter between the security forces and the hiding terrorists in a village of Kulgam district, succumbed to critical injuries in the hospital.

Security forces started a cordon and search operation in Modergam village of Kulgam early on Saturday, following reports about the presence of terrorists in the village.

“As the security forces came close to the hiding terrorists, they fired at the security forces triggering an encounter,” officials said.

The exchange of fire between the security forces and terrorists is continuing in the area.

–IANS

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Jaipur, July 6 (IANS) Heavy rain disrupted normal life in Rajasthan on Saturday causing waterlogging, traffic jams, and the Tonk district administration announcing the closure of schools.

Incessant rain in Kota for the past two days increased Parvati River’s water levels, leading to the closure of the road connecting Sheopur and Gwalior in MP.

The Meteorological Department said that the Baran district recorded the highest rainfall (195 mm) while Parbatsar and Nagaur, registered 71 mm.

In the past 24 hours, Deoli in Tonk 155 mm rain, Malpura (144 mm), Peeplu (144 mm), Tonk tehsil (137 mm), Aligarh (130 mm), 126 mm in Todaraisingh and Nagarfort (115 mm).

Meanwhile, the Meteorological Department officials have warned of heavy to very heavy rain in the state till July 8.

Further on July 9 and 10, heavy rainfall has been forecast for eastern Rajasthan.

–IANS

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Srinagar, July 6, (IANS) An encounter has started between terrorists and security forces at Hadipora area at Modergam in South Kashmir’s Kulgam district, officials said on Saturday.

“Encounter started at Modergam village of Kulgam District. Police and security forces are on job,” police said.

The operation started after a joint team of police and security forces got an input about the presence of terrorists in that area.

There have been a series of encounters between terrorists and security forces across Kashmir in the recent past in which many terrorists have been eliminated.

–IANS

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