Did Nehru orchestrate Shyama Prasad Mukherjee’s death? - Mukul Roy & Ashish M
Shyama Prasad Mukherjee was a barrister, the youngest ever vice chancellor of Calcutta University & India’s first Minister of Industry & Supply. But, he’s better known as the founder of Bharatiya Jana Sangh that later became BJP. 6th July was celebrated as the death anniversary of Dr . Mukherjee.
Pandit Nehru had inducted him in the Interim Central Government as a Minister Of Industry & Supply.
On the issue of Delhi pact with Likayat Ali Khan, Mukherjee resigned from the Cabinet in April 1950.
He had serious differences with Nehru over Kashmir & termed the arrangement under Article 370 as BALKANISATION of India & three Nation theory of Sheikh Abdullah. He was the man who denounced Article 370 for J & K & believed that it would become a threat to the Unity Of India.
Mukherjee famously said “Ek Desh mein Do Vidhan, Do Pradhan aur Do Nishan Nahi Chalenge”, meaning “a single country can’t have two Constitutions,two Prime Ministers, & two National Emblems”.
He launched a massive Satyagrah against this provision & went on to visit Kashmir in 1953. Mukherjee decided to violate the permit rule by entering J& K without permit, was arrested on 11th May1953 .
The J& K government didn’t proceed with any TRIALS. Just two months after his ARREST, he was reported DEAD inside the Jail on June 23rd, 1953.
His death under mysterious circumstances in custody raised many eyebrows & demands of independent enquiry was raised, which was turned down by Mr. Nehru.
According to Nehru there was NO Mystery behind Mukherjee’s death & the State Government declared that he died due to Heart Attack.
In the absence of any ENQUIRY , POLITICAL CONTROVERSY remain.
A BILLION DOLLAR QUESTION is : WHO KILLED Mukherjee ?
Was it a Natural Death?
There are conspiracy theories abound that Nehru and Sheikh Abdullah colluded to make this happen.
Actually since BJP considers Shyama Prasad Mukherjee its founder (sansthapak) and since BJP is in power at the Center now, there would perhaps be no better time than now, to initiate an inquiry into the death of Shyama Prasad Mukherjee.
However, from what I understand, the reason BJP is not doing it, could be attributed to any/all of the following reasons:
i) Too much water has flown under the bridge (since 1950s). So, BJP has decided to let bygones be bygones and just bury the matter cold.
ii) Any inquiry launched now would be inconclusive, because there is obviously no documented proof anywhere, and no stakeholders (direct or indirect) is alive for any confirmation/denial
iii) Nehru is obviously the patriarch of the Gandhi dynasty. So, ruffling feathers with the patriarch is something that BJP just does not want to do, since there may be many skeletons in the closet of BJP as well that would tumble down, if/when Congress comes to power. Remember that while BJP and Congress are purportedly sworn enemies, there is only an extent to which they scratch each other’s backs.
iv) Since Shyama Prasad Mukherjee died in Kashmir, any new information that comes up in the investigation, might worsen the already volatile situation in Kashmir that the Government will find difficult to manage. Remember that Shyama Prasad Mukherjee was a staunch opponent of Article 370. Summarily, looks like this is one question that would most probably remain unanswered till eternity.