'August 14 will be remembered as Partition Horrors Remembrance Day'

INDIAN prime minister Narendra Modi on Saturday (14) said August 14 will be remembered as Partition Horrors Remembrance Day in memory of the struggles and sacrifices of people during that period. He said this on the eve of India’s 75th Independence Day.

“Partition’s pains can never be forgotten. Millions of our sisters and brothers were displaced and many lost their lives due to mindless hate and violence. In memory of the struggles and sacrifices of our people, 14th August will be observed as Partition Horrors Remembrance Day,” Modi tweeted.

“May the Partition Horrors Remembrance Day keep reminding us of the need to remove the poison of social divisions, disharmony and further strengthen the spirit of oneness, social harmony and human empowerment,” he said in another tweet.

India was bifurcated into India and Pakistan in the intervening night of August 14 and 15, 1947, as the British colonial rule came to an end. Millions of people were displaced as a result and several thousands lost their lives in the large-scale rioting that broke out.

Pakistan, the Muslim-majority country which was carved out of undivided India, observes its independence day on August 14. Celebrations took place across the country on the occasion and prime minister Imran Khan said Pakistan today is capable of standing tall among the comity of nations.