West Bengal Govt Declares July 6 Holiday To Mark Syama Prasad Mukherjee’s Birth Anniversary
West Bengal: July 6 Declared State Holiday To Mark Syama Prasad Mukherjee’s Birth Anniversary Published By, Last Updated: June 22, 2026, 14:30 IST As part
West Bengal: July 6 Declared State Holiday To Mark Syama Prasad Mukherjee’s Birth Anniversary Published By, Last Updated: June 22, 2026, 14:30 IST As part of the commemorative plans, the government has proposed building a 125-foot statue of Mukherjee at Jirat. West Bengal CM Suvendu Adhikari. (PTI/File) The West Bengal government, led by Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, has announced that July 6 will be observed as a state holiday every year to mark the birth anniversary of Dr Syama Prasad Mukherjee, one of the founders of the Bharatiya Jana Sangh and a former Union minister. The decision was announced in the state budget, which described Mukherjee’s contribution to the history of West Bengal as “highly commendable".
The government said 2026 will mark his 125th birth anniversary and that year-long celebrations will be organised to honour his legacy. As part of the commemorative plans, the government has proposed building a 125-foot statue of Mukherjee at Jirat, his ancestral village, and restoring his ancestral home to its former glory. A park, library and memorial are also planned in his memory. The state government has proposed an allocation of Rs 200 crore for these initiatives. The announcement comes amid continued political sparring between the ruling Trinamool Congress and the BJP, which has long accused the Mamata Banerjee government of neglecting the legacy of Syama Prasad Mukherjee. Mukherjee was born on July 6, 1901, in Kolkata and served as India’s first Minister for Industry and Supply in Jawaharlal Nehru’s cabinet.
He later resigned over differences on policies related to Jammu and Kashmir and founded the Bharatiya Jana Sangh in 1951, the ideological predecessor of the BJP. He died in custody in Srinagar in 1953 after being arrested while protesting the special status granted to Jammu and Kashmir. The move is politically significant as the BJP has often accused the Mamata Banerjee-led government of ignoring Mukherjee’s legacy, while the Trinamool Congress has sought to highlight his role as a prominent Bengali leader and educationist. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit About the Author Anushka Vats Anushka Vats is a Sub-Editor at News18.com with a passion for storytelling and a curiosity that extends beyond the newsroom.
She covers both national and international news. For more stories, you can... Read More First Published: June 22, 2026, 14:23 IST News india West Bengal: July 6 Declared State Holiday To Mark Syama Prasad Mukherjee’s Birth Anniversary Disclaimer: Comments reflect users’ views, not News18’s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments...
The BriefWire