The Unsolved Mystery of Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee's Death: Who Was Responsible for the Negligence?

On the death anniversary of Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee, the founder president of Bharatiya Jana Sangh, the mystery surrounding his untimely death in 1953 remains unresolved. Despite numerous calls for an inquiry, no formal investigation was ever conducted, leaving many questions unanswered about the circumstances of his death at age 52.

"603" data-end="920">Dr. Mukherjee was a prominent leader in independent India, serving as a cabinet minister under Jawaharlal Nehru and later as a key opposition figure. In May 1953, he was detained by the Jammu and Kashmir government without any formal charges. A few days later, he died mysteriously in a hospital in Jammu and Kashmir. Attempts to Seek Investigation:

• In November 1953, the West Bengal Legislative Assembly passed a resolution demanding a Supreme Court-led inquiry into Mukherjee’s death.

• However, amendments proposed by Congress MLAs limited this to a request for the Jammu and Kashmir government to conduct the investigation, removing the demand for a Supreme Court judge-led commission.

• Jammu and Kashmir’s special constitutional status was cited as a reason why the central government could not intervene directly.

Political and Administrative Apathy:

• West Bengal Chief Minister Dr. Bidhan Chandra Roy, a personal friend of Mukherjee, initially supported the investigation but later opposed it, aligning with the amendment.

• The Government of India repeatedly deferred responsibility, stating the matter was under Jammu and Kashmir’s jurisdiction.

• Parliamentary questions about an official inquiry or Dr. Roy’s visit to Kashmir were dismissed or ignored, with no formal report ever produced.

• Jammu and Kashmir officials acknowledged only informal visits and inquiries, but no official investigation was launched.

Conclusion:

The reluctance and deliberate inaction of the West Bengal government, the Jammu and Kashmir authorities, and the Government of India have left Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee’s death shrouded in mystery. This neglect has denied closure to his family and the nation, making it one of modern India’s enduring political enigmas.