After ‘Bharat Mata' portrait row, Kerala Governor faces flak over ‘Partition Horror Day' directive
An official email from Kerala Raj Bhavan, which surfaced Monday, was s ent by the additional secretary to the Governor, saying that universities should observe 14 August as 'Partition Horror Day'. It directed that the universities could organise seminars and plays that 'show how terrible the Partition was' to the impacted people. The statement also directed vice chancellors to submit their action plans on the matter.
Thiruvananthapuram: Amid already strained relations with the ruling Left, Kerala Governor Rajendra Arlekar's directive to state universities to observe 14 August as 'Partition Horror Day' has sparked fresh controversy and condemnation from the government.
The new directive has drawn sharp criticism from the state government and the Congress. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said the call was an attempt to diminish the importance of Independence Day. He alleged that the Sangh Parivar's push for such a commemoration alongside Independence Day stemmed from the fact that it had no role in the country's freedom struggle.
'It is unconstitutional for the Raj Bhavan to issue directives aligned with the Partition politics agenda of the Sangh Parivar. The Governor's action of sending circulars to vice-chancellors to observe August 14 as Partition Horrors Remembrance Day is condemnable. We cannot allow our universities to be used as platforms to implement such an agenda,' the chief minister said in a statement Monday night.
He added that the Sangh Parivar conveniently ignored the fact that the Partition and the post-Partition riots were the result of the British policy of divide and rule.
Kerala Leader of Opposition V.D. Satheesan also asked under what authority the Governor had issued such a directive. 'It is unconstitutional for the Governor to make decisions and act in parallel to the state government. By doing this, Vishwanath Arlekar, holding a constitutional post, is openly telling Kerala that he still represents the divisive politics of the RSS,' the Congress leader said.
However, an official at the Kerala Raj Bhavan told ThePrint that the circular was issued in the month of June in line with the University Grants Commission's directive.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced in 2021 the decision to observe 14 August as 'Partition Horrors Remembrance Day' as a tribute to all those who had lost their lives during the Partition. The following year, the UGC had issued directives to universities and colleges to commemorate the day.
(Edited by Sugita Katyal)
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hans India
an hour ago
- Hans India
Tiranga rally held with 1000-ft national flag
Tirupati: The two-week long Independence Day celebrations began on a colourful note here on Tuesday. Marking the occasion a massive rally (Tiranga Rally) with a 1000-feet mammoth national flag was taken out in a colourful possession by the students from various colleges in the city. District Collector Dr S Venkateswar along with Municipal Corporation Commissioner Narapureddy Mourya flagged off the rally which began at TTD Mahati Auditorium near town club and culminated into a meeting at Tarakarama Stadium. Speaking on the occasion, the Collector said the youth should not be limited to mere celebrations carrying national flags to show their patriotism but should play a proactive role in nation development. Responding to the call given by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and endorsed by the State government, this year the Independence Day will be celebrated for two weeks. Accordingly, people should participate in the celebrations by hoisting the national flag in every village and in all towns and cities. On the occasion, the Collector said everyone more so the youth should take part in a cleanliness drive to see their neighbourhood, streets and the city be clean. Collector lauded the Way Foundation, an NGO for providing the 1000-feet long national flag to the tiranga rally. Municipal Commissioner Mourya said hitherto the Independence Day celebrations were only held in government offices, schools and colleges but now the tiranga flag was seen on the houses as people are voluntarily reflecting their patriotism. This patriotic spirit should be promoted and channeled into constructive works. Particularly, to make the city clean and green for a healthy environment. Greenery and Beautification chairperson Sugunamma, Yadava Corporation Chairman Narasimha Yadav, Urban Development Corporation Director Vooka Vijay Kumar, Deputy Mayor R C Munikrishna, SVU Vice-Chancellor Appa Rao, Tourism R D Ramana Prasad and Additional Commissioner Charan Tej Reddy were present.
Hindustan Times
an hour ago
- Hindustan Times
Ajit Pawar slams move to ban meat on Independence Day, says ‘it is not right'
After the Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC) issued an order banning the sale of meat on Independence Day recently, on Tuesday, civic bodies of Malegaon, Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar and Nagpur followed suit. One would have understood the ban if it were on the day of Ashadhi Ekadashi or Mahavir Jayanti. But when there is no such occasion, why should meat shops be forced to remain closed, Pawar questioned.(ANI Grab for representation) While the move generated criticism from the Opposition, with Shiv Sena (UBT) indicating that it was an 'imposition of vegetarianism', members of the ruling alliance were divided in their responses – while the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) questioned it, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spoke up in its support, pointing out that past regimes had implemented similar bans. After the three cities issued the notice on Tuesday, deputy chief minister and head of NCP, Ajit Pawar said: 'It is not right to close meat shops on days such as Independence Day, Republic Day or Maharashtra Day.' Pawar argued that since the days are not marked for religious festivals, sentiments will not be hurt, and also pointed out how certain communities in the Konkan belt are known to prepare delicacies comprising vegetables mixed with dry fish. 'One would have understood the ban if it were on the day of Ashadhi Ekadashi or Mahavir Jayanti. But when there is no such occasion, why should meat shops be forced to remain closed? People have been consuming vegetarian as well as non-vegetarian food in our country for centuries,' he said, adding that 'those in rural parts and tribal communities actually enjoy non-vegetarian food on holidays.' Affirming that he will eat non-vegetarian food on August 15, Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray said, 'The municipal commissioners should be suspended. They have no authority to tell people what they should eat. What will those from communities such as Agari and Koli, who eat non-vegetarian food regularly, do? In several Hindu communities such as our own, during Navratri, we offer non-vegetarian food to Goddess Durga.' He questioned the 'imposition of vegetarianism on Maharashtra when Hinduism gives people the option to choose their own food groups'. While Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) leader Bala Nandgaonkar appealed to the government to 'withdraw the decision', Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar called it the government's ploy 'to divert people's attention from crucial issues such as poor condition of roads, traffic jams and pollution'. In its response to NCP (SP) leader Jitendra Awhad's claim a couple of days ago that he will protest the ban by throwing a meat party, and Thackeray's attack, BJP put out a state government order dated May 12, 1988, which empowered all municipal corporations to close meat shops on Independence Day, Mahavir Jayanti etc. BJP spokesperson Navnath Ban posted on X: 'It was during the Congress regime in 1988 that meat shops were closed on Independence Day. Moreover, during the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government in 2021 the Nagpur Municipal Corporation issued a similar order to be followed on Independence Day. Why were these leaders quiet at that time, and are stoking controversy now?'
Indian Express
an hour ago
- Indian Express
Ex-servicemen associations call for boycotting Punjab govt's I-Day functions
Several ex-servicemen associations of Punjab have declared boycott of the state's functions marking the Independence Day on August 15 in protest against the ill-treatment of military personnel by the Punjab Police and government agencies. One of the triggers for the boycott is the manner in which Colonel P S Bath's case was handled by the Punjab Police. It is alleged that Patiala police attempted to drag Bath's feet while lodging an FIR against the cops accused of assaulting the Colonel and his son in Patiala in March on the intervening night of March 13 and 14, and subsequent efforts by Patiala police to hush up the case. Lt Col SS Sohi (retd), president of Ex-servicemen Grievances Cell, Mohali, told The Indian Express that the decision to boycott the state's functions was to show resentment and anger regarding the police brutality against Colonel P S Bath and DSC Naik Sattar. Sohi referred to the incident in Malerkotla and said: 'When he (Sattar) approached the police station, the lady SHO refused to register an FIR and asked him to go to hospital on his own.' The SHO also stopped a policeman who tried to take the injured to the hospital, he said adding that: 'It is only when the SSP intervened that an FIR was registered.' 'The insensitivity shown by the Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann in Colonel Bath's case was very unfortunate… a consistent apathy shown to serving personnel and ex-servicemen by the government and therefore we have decided not to participate in the Punjab government's functions on August 15.' When contacted, SSP Malerkotla Gagan Ajit Singh, said prompt action was taken in the case of the soldier's personal dispute. 'An FIR was registered and one of the accused has been arrested while two are absconding but will be arrested soon.' The president of All India Defence Brotherhood, Brig Harwant Singh (retd), said the veteran communities have the right to protest against the police's highhandedness. 'We must have a sense of shame that our officers and troops are treated in this manner by Punjab Police. When our soldiers die in J&K and come home wrapped in coffins, these policemen salute their dead bodies, but when they are alive they thrash them.' Harwant also said it was improper for the CM to not have done anything despite meeting Col Bath and his family.
