Pain of Partition can never be forgotten, says Haryana CM Saini

Tribune News Service

Advertisement

Kurukshetra, August 14

Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini today said the Partition of India was a big tragedy and the memories of that massacre still haunts us.

Addressing a state-level Partition Horrors Remembrance Day (Vibhajan Vibhishika Smriti Diwas) here, the CM said, “We are here to pay tribute to those who were killed in the bloodshed following India’s Partition and I pray that such an unfortunate incident never occur anywhere in the world. The Partition of India is a tragedy about which almost half of the post-Independence literature is filled with. Lakhs of people were killed due to the hatred and violence.” Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on August 15, 2021, had announced that August 14 would be observed as Partition Horrors Remembrance Day to remember and honour those who sacrificed their lives during the Partition.

“We will celebrate Independence Day tomorrow but today we are here to remember the sorrowful day of the history of India. We had to pay a heavy price for Independence. The British were not aware of the culture, history and geographical conditions, and the line stretched by the British in the name of Partition left lakhs of innocent people killed and displaced. Atrocities were committed against mothers and sisters. The memories of that massacre still haunt us,” he said.

Saini said, “Though the country has moved forward, and has become the fifth largest economy in the world, the pain of the Partition can never be forgotten.”

“We are proud of those who did not fear anyone, did not succumb to greed, and prioritised their country, religion, and self-respect, accepting hardships and rebuilding their homes from scratch. They contributed significantly to the prosperity and well-being of the areas where they settled. Their hard work played a crucial role in economically enriching those regions, including Haryana”, he said.

The CM also inaugurated an exhibition organised to showcase the struggle of people during the Partition.

The Chief Minister said a world-class Shaheedi Samarak will be built in Masana village of Kurukshetra to preserve the memories of the Partition. A budget of around Rs 200 crore will be spent on this memorial. He also announced a grant of Rs 51 lakh from his discretionary fund for the memorial. Later in the evening, he also participated in the Tiranga Yatra.