Modi Honors Veteran BJP Worker in Kolkata

Prime Minister Narendra Modi shared an emotional and respectful moment with 98-year-old veteran BJP worker Makhan Lal Sarkar during the swearing-in ceremony of Suvendu Adhikari as West Bengal’s new Chief Minister in Kolkata on Saturday.
As Makhan Lal Sarkar greeted the Prime Minister at the event, Modi showed deep respect by touching the elderly leader’s feet and warmly embracing him. This gesture drew loud cheers and applause from supporters and attendees present at the ceremony.
The moment was widely seen as a tribute to Sarkar’s long-standing dedication to nationalist politics and his contribution to the early ideological movements associated with the Bharatiya Janata Party’s roots.
Makhan Lal Sarkar is regarded as one of the earliest grassroots figures connected to nationalist political activism in post-Independence India.
In the early 1950s, Sarkar played an active role in the movement led by Syama Prasad Mukherjee, who opposed special constitutional provisions in Jammu and Kashmir and sought to strengthen national integration.
During the movement to hoist the Indian national flag in Kashmir, Sarkar was arrested while accompanying Mukherjee, reflecting his direct involvement in one of the significant nationalist campaigns of that era.
Now at the age of 98, Sarkar remains a symbol of dedication and ideological commitment for many BJP supporters.
Prime Minister Modi’s gesture at the ceremony highlighted not only personal respect but also recognition of the sacrifices made by earlier generations of political workers who helped shape the party’s foundation.
The touching interaction became one of the most memorable moments of the event, symbolizing continuity between the BJP’s historical roots and its present leadership.