ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Wedne­sday strongly deno­un­ced the Indian governme­nt’s “mischievous move” of obser­ving “Part­ition Horrors Rem­e­mbrance Day” on Aug 14.

In a statement, the Foreign Office called the move “depl­orable” and “part of the BJP government’s divisive political agenda”.

This is a wanton attempt to play with sentiments of people through distorted interpretation of history, the statement added.

“True to its characteristic revisionist agenda, the BJP-RSS-led dispensation has again sought to hypocritically and one-sidedly invoke the tragic events and mass migration that occurred in the wake of Independence in 1947.”

The FO added that if the Indian leaders genuinely cared about the pain and suffering, they should work to improve the conditions of Muslims and other minorities in India.

“Today’s India was an undeclared Hindu Rashtra that has no place or tolerance for other religious minorities, especially Muslims who faced discrimination, persecution and political and socioeconomic exclusion,” it said.

The FO advised the Indian government to “desist from politicising the events of Independence” and honour the memories of those who sacrificed their lives.

Last year, Indian Prime Minister Nar­e­ndra Modi had announced to observe Aug 14 as Partition Horrors Reme­mbrance Day from 2022.

Published in Dawn, August 11th, 2022