Jallianwala Bagh massacre centenary: Capt Amarinder leads candlelight march

AMRITSAR: On the eve of Jallianwala Bagh massacre centenary, Punjab chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh rejected the regret expressed by British prime minister Theresa May terming it as "inadequate" and demanded an unequivocal official apology from Britain for the pogrom.

Amarinder, along with governor VPS Badnore, took out a candlelight march on Friday evening to light up the memories of the martyrs of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre.

The march started from the historic Townhall and culminated at the Jallianwala Bagh Memorial with high pitched slogans of 'inquilab zindabad’.

Terming the tragic event as a heart-wrenching moment in India’s history, Amarinder, in an informal chat with media persons, said that people of India wanted an unequivocal apology from Britain for the atrocity.

Punjab Vidhan Sabha had already passed a resolution demanding the official apology, he said, adding, that the tragedy was one of the most horrific examples of colonial excess and the massacre was a moral blot on the face of Britain.

“The candles that have been lit today rekindled memories of the sad day and would serve as a reminder of the sacrifice of the hundreds who were killed in the massacre and went on become an inspiring source of patriotism and nationalism for generations of Indians,” said the chief minister.

Amarinder, along with Rahul Gandhi, would not only pay floral tributes at Jallianwala Bagh on Saturday, but would also meet the descendants of some of the martyrs of Jallianwala Bagh.

Various NGOs, social, religious and voluntary organisations also took part in the candlelight march. Prominent amongst who were present at the occasion included AICC Punjab incharge Asha Kumari, president PPCC Sunil Jakhar, cabinet ministers etc.