Lucknow, Dec 25: Terming revocation of Article 370 in 2019 as matter of pride for BJP and the country, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said the move strengthened national unity and fulfilled a long-pending ideological commitment.
Addressing the inaugural function of Rashtriya Prerna Sthal in Lucknow on the 101st birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, PM Modi, said, “The Rashtriya Prerna Sthal symbolises a vision that guided India towards self-respect and service.” Referring to the towering statues at the complex, he said, “These statues are very tall, but the inspiration they give to the nation is even greater.”
The Prime Minister said the BJP-led government was proud to have removed Article 370, describing it as a decisive step towards completing the process of national integration.
He said the ideological foundation for the move had been laid decades ago by Bharatiya Jana Sangh founder Syama Prasad Mukherjee.
“We are proud that our government got the opportunity to remove the wall of Article 370,” Modi said, adding that the country could not function with “two flags and two constitutions.”
He said India was now firmly bound together by a single constitutional framework and a shared sense of unity.
Modi said the Rashtriya Prerna Sthal was dedicated to leaders whose ideas had shaped India’s political and social journey, including Vajpayee, Mukherjee and Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya.
He said preserving their legacy was essential for inspiring future generations and guiding the country’s development path.
The Prime Minister said the land on which the memorial has been built had remained neglected for decades and had turned into a massive garbage dump over the years.
He congratulated all those associated with the project for transforming the site into a modern national landmark. “I congratulate the people of Uttar Pradesh and the entire country for this inspirational place,” he said.
The Rashtriya Prerna Sthal, spread across 65 acres and developed at an estimated cost of around Rs 230 crore, features 65-foot-high bronze statues of Vajpayee, Mukherjee and Upadhyaya. It also houses a state-of-the-art, lotus-shaped museum showcasing their lives, ideas and contributions to nation-building.
PM Modi was accompanied by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and other senior leaders.
After the inauguration, the Prime Minister toured the museum and viewed exhibits highlighting key milestones in the lives of the leaders commemorated at the site.
He said initiatives like the Rashtriya Prerna Sthal reflected the government’s commitment to national unity, respect for historical figures and the transformation of neglected spaces into enduring symbols of collective inspiration. (KNO)
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