Tripura Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha on Monday laid the foundation stone for a 13-foot bronze statue of Bharatiya Jana Sangh (BJS) founder Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee at the Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee Hall, formerly known as the Town Hall, in Agartala.

Addressing the gathering, Dr Saha said the statue would serve as a tribute to Mookerjee's sacrifice and lasting contribution to the nation. He alleged that successive governments before 2014 had failed to give due recognition to the BJS founder's legacy, adding that the situation changed after Narendra Modi assumed office as Prime Minister.

Recalling the decision to rename Agartala's Town Hall after Dr Mookerjee, the Chief Minister said the move had faced criticism from the opposition. Despite the objections, the state government proceeded with the renaming to honour a leader who, he said, sacrificed his life for the unity and integrity of India.

Dr Saha further claimed that several long-standing aspirations of Dr Mookerjee had been realised under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi. He cited the abrogation of Articles 370 and 35A in Jammu and Kashmir, the enactment of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), and the push for an "Atmanirbhar Bharat" as major steps reflecting Mookerjee's vision.

Referring to the removal of the special constitutional provisions for Jammu and Kashmir, the Chief Minister said many people had predicted widespread violence following the decision. However, he asserted that those fears did not materialise and noted that Dr Mookerjee had long advocated the integration of the region with the rest of the country.

Dr Saha also said Dr Mookerjee had expressed concern over the safety and security of minorities in East and West Pakistan following Partition. According to him, the Citizenship Amendment Act was enacted to address those concerns and fulfil one of Mookerjee's key objectives.

Highlighting the idea of self-reliance, the Chief Minister said Dr Mookerjee had encouraged reducing India's dependence on other countries. He added that the Modi-led government had advanced that vision through the "Atmanirbhar Bharat" initiative, leading to significant progress in defence manufacturing.

"India is now exporting arms and defence equipment to other countries while also sharing technology with friendly nations for the welfare of humanity," Dr Saha said.