Prime Minister Narendra Modi. File
| Photo Credit: DD News via ANI
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday (August 14, 2026) paid tribute to people affected by Partition, saying they had overcome adversity to rebuild their lives and contributed immensely to the country’s progress.
“Today we mark #PartitionHorrorsRemembranceDay. We recall the courage of all those who were impacted by Partition. It was a moment in history that tore apart several lives… families were uprooted, loved ones were lost, and immense suffering was endured,” Mr. Modi said in a post on X.
“At the same time, overcoming this, people rebuilt their lives from nothing, turned adversity into achievement and contributed immensely to our nation’s progress. Their life journeys remind us of the strength of the human spirit. May this day deepen our resolve to preserve harmony and brotherhood in our nation and collectively work towards building a Viksit Bharat,” he said.
‘Nehru-Gandhi family to blame’
The Bharatiya Janata Party’s X handle, meanwhile, posted an AI-generated video for Partition Horrors Remembrance Day, depicting former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and Pakistan founder Muhammad Ali Jinnah shaking hands
Addressing an event in Gurugram, BJP president Nitin Nabin noted that over 1.5 crore families were displaced and over 30 lakh people lost their lives during Partition. He held the Congress party and the Nehru-Gandhi family responsible for the country’s division.
“Those who had dreamed of political power for themselves attained power, but millions of Indians who had dreamed of freedom were forced to witness a bloody chapter. Those who, in one way or another, advanced the transfer of power believing that they saw an opportunity and their future in Partition, secured their own future while putting the future of millions of Indians at stake,” he said.
‘A bloody chapter’
On August 16, 1946, he said, a “bloody chapter was written on the streets of Kolkata in the form of ‘Direct Action Day’, which plunged the entire country into the flames of communal violence”.
Describing Mr. Modi’s observance of the day as an effort to learn from history and make the new generation aware of Partition, the BJP chief said that, in the past, some people had attempted to bury the dark chapter in order to conceal their own truths.
“Those who divided the country solely for political power have still not changed their mindset; they divided the country then and are working to divide society today, with no change in their methods or policies,” he said, alleging that the Congress had never publicly apologised to the families who suffered.
‘Congress hypocrisy’
“The Congress that fought for Independence could never have laid the foundation for the Partition of the country… A few individuals laid the foundation for Partition, after which the Congress of that time was effectively buried forever,” said Mr. Nabin.
He said that those who viewed the situation solely through the lens of political power imposed restrictions and “never recognised the spirit of service demonstrated by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh through its workers at that time”.
The BJP chief slammed Congress leaders, saying those responsible for the horrors of Partition were now speaking of uniting India while welcoming those who called for the country’s disintegration. He criticised Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, saying the world is watching the “insulting words” he uses against the head of the country, even as India’s diplomacy and foreign policy strengthen its global position.
Published – August 14, 2026 12:51 pm IST
