Syama Prasad Mookerjee was a statesman: Modi

New Delhi, July 6: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday paid tribute to Bharatiya Jana Sangh founder Syama Prasad Mookerjee on his birth anniversary, describing him a "statesman" and "profound thinker". "Today we pay our tributes to the respected Syama Prasad Mookerjee on his birth anniversary. He is remembered as a great leader with an invaluable contribution to the nation. He always emphasised on education among the youth," Modi said in a message. "He was a statesman, way ahead of his time and a profound thinker whose thoughts have been widely appreciated," he added. Mookerjee was born on July 6, 1901. He founded the Bharatiya Jana Sangh in 1951.