Lucknow: On the occasion of Partition Horrors Remembrance Day, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath launched a scathing attack on the Congress party, holding it responsible for the tragedies of 1947 and for adopting a policy of appeasement that, he claimed, has damaged the nation ever since.
Before addressing a symposium at Baghidari Bhawan, CM Yogi led a silent march in memory of the victims of Partition. He described August 14, 1947, as a “national tragedy that can never be forgotten,” recalling that nearly 15–20 lakh people were massacred, 1.5–2 crore were displaced, and countless families were uprooted from their homes.
Partition: A Humanitarian and Moral Crime
CM Yogi said Partition was not just an administrative decision but a barbaric event that forced millions of Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, and Jains to abandon their roots. He accused the then leadership of misleading the public by portraying the division of the nation as a routine administrative arrangement, “as if two brothers were dividing property.” He further alleged that Partition gave birth to “a Pakistan that continues to conspire against India.”
Congress Must Apologize for Historical Wrongs
Slamming Congress for its “policy of appeasement,” CM Yogi asserted that the party’s approach since 1947 has destroyed the nation. He accused Congress of stifling the Constitution during the Emergency, orchestrating the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, and misleading the public instead of accepting responsibility for past mistakes. “Congress and other opposition parties should apologize for the Partition of 1947, the 1984 Sikh massacre, the 1975 Emergency, and for imposing Article 370 in Kashmir,” he said.
Modi’s Initiative to Honor Partition Victims
The Chief Minister praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for instituting Partition Horrors Remembrance Day in 2021, giving citizens an opportunity to reflect on the immense suffering caused before and after Independence. He revealed that the UP government is preparing a major relief package for families who lost citizenship during Partition, including land allotment in districts like Bijnor, Pilibhit, Lakhimpur Kheri, and Rampur.
Plans for Memorials and Digital Archives
CM Yogi lamented that no memorial or museum had ever been created for Partition victims until PM Modi’s announcement of a dedicated museum and digital archive. He reiterated the state government’s commitment to granting citizenship and dignity to refugees from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan under the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).
“This day reminds us that we must always be ready to defend India’s unity and integrity,” he said, paying tribute to all those who suffered during the Partition.
Deputy CMs Keshav Prasad Maurya and Brajesh Pathak, Rajya Sabha MP Dr. Dinesh Sharma, Minister Aseem Arun, and former Mayor Sanyukta Bhatia were among those present at the event.
