Jallianwala Bagh a shameful act: British envoy

New Delhi:India today marks the 100th anniversary of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, one of the worst atrocities of British colonial rule for which London has yet to apologise. Congress president Rahul Gandhi, who reached Amritsar last night, paid his tribute to those who lost their lives and laid a wreath at the memorial this morning.

British High Commissioner to India Dominic Asquith, who too paid his tribute, called the Jallianwala Bagh massacre a “shameful act in British-Indian history”. “The events of Jallianwala Bagh 100 years ago today reflects a shameful act in British-Indian history. We deeply regret what happened and the suffering caused. I am pleased today that the UK and India have and remain committed to developing further a thriving 21st century partnership,” Asquith said.

 

Vice President Venkaiah Naidu, political leaders and hundreds of people are expected to visit the memorial in Amritsar today.

“Today, when we observe 100 years of the horrific Jallianwala Bagh massacre, India pays tributes to all those martyred on that fateful day. Their valour and sacrifice will never be forgotten. Their memory inspires us to work even harder to build an India they would be proud of,” PM Modi tweeted.

The Jallianwala Bagh massacre, as it is known in India, saw British troops, under the command of Colonel Reginald Dyer, fire on thousands of unarmed men, women and children holding a pro-Independence demonstation in Amritsar on Baisakhi in April 1919. It is one of the darkest chapters of India’s freedom struggle against the British occupation.