Odisha CM Majhi Marks Partition Horrors Day with Call for Unity

Bhubaneswar: On the eve of Independence Day, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi observed Partition Horrors Remembrance Day at Lok Seva Bhawan, urging citizens to treat the day not only as a solemn remembrance but also as a pledge to safeguard India’s unity and sovereignty.

Majhi described the 1947 Partition as one of the darkest chapters in history, citing the displacement of 1.5 crore people, the loss of 5–20 lakh lives, and the atrocities faced by over 50,000 women.

He recalled the chilling “blood trains” that carried corpses across borders, underscoring the human cost of division.

Blaming British “Divide and Rule” policies and political ambitions of the era, Majhi warned against forgetting history’s lessons.

He pointed to declining Hindu populations in Pakistan and rising atrocities in Bangladesh as contemporary reminders of communal strife.

The CM highlighted the inclusion of Partition horrors in NCERT textbooks to ensure younger generations understand the unvarnished truth.

He also cited refugee success stories such as L.K. Advani, Manmohan Singh, and Milkha Singh, contrasting them with the marginalised “Mohajirs” in Pakistan.

Initiated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2021, the observance of Partition Horrors Remembrance Day has become a national call to vigilance.

Majhi urged citizens to celebrate Independence Day with joy while remaining committed to protecting India’s sovereignty and integrity.

The event was attended by senior officials, cultural leaders, and intellectuals, including Dr Bijay Ketan Upadhyay, Dr Chandrasekhar Hota, Pratul Ketkar, Prajna Mahala, and Bikram Keshari Mahapatra.