Observing 'Partition Horrors Remembrance Day' idea Sangh Parivar; implementing such agenda cannot be allowed: CM against Governor

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has strongly criticised Governor Rajendra Arlekar for instructing universities in Kerala to observe August 14 as 'Partition Horrors Remembrance Day'. The Chief Minister accused the Sangh Parivar think tanks of the idea that when independence turns 78, another day should be celebrated besides August 15.

"The Sangh Parivar is the one who mocked Mahatma Gandhi, who tried to put out the fire when the riots broke out during the partition of India. The stand of issuing action plans from the Raj Bhavan in accordance with the Sangh Parivar's political agenda is unconstitutional. The Governor's action in sending a circular to the Vice Chancellors to observe August 14 as Partition Horrors Remembrance Day is protestable. We cannot allow our universities to be used as a platform to implement such an agenda," the Chief Minister said.

"The ones who need to belittle Independence Day are those who served the British Raj without any participation in the freedom struggle. Those who spent their energy fighting against internal enemies instead of fighting against foreign powers during the freedom struggle are calling for the celebration of Partition Horrors Remembrance Day to belittle the importance of Independence Day. The Sangh Parivar people are still living in the same mindset that they went to the British Viceroy in person, expressed their support and made it clear that they were not against the British Raj."

"Those who continue to follow the politics that turned their backs on the national freedom struggle in which people of all castes and religions in India came together, are now talking about the fear of partition. The former British servants are forgetting that the partition of India and the inter-partition riots were the result of the British government's divide and rule strategy," the Chief Minister said.