Jallianwala Bagh massacre 100th anniversary: Congress chief Rahul Gandhi paid tributes at the memorial.Jallianwala Bagh massacre 100th anniversary: Political leaders across the country paid homage to the victims of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre on its 100th anniversary on Saturday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Ram Nath Kovind took to Twitter to pay their respects with the former saying that the “valour and sacrifice (of the martyrs) will never be forgotten”. “Their memory inspires us to work even harder to build an India they would be proud of,” PM Modi tweeted.
Congress chief Rahul Gandhi also arrived at the memorial in the national capital and paid floral tributes to the martyrs along with Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh. In his message on the visitors’ book, British High Commissioner to India Sir Dominic Asquith called the massacre ‘a shameful act in British-Indian history’. “The events of Jallianwala Bagh 100 years ago today reflect a shameful act in British-Indian history. We deeply regret what happened and the suffering caused,” he said.
A massacre took place in Jallianwala Bagh in Amritsar on Baisakhi in April 1919 when troops of the British Indian Army under the command of Colonel Dyer opened fire on a crowd of people holding a pro-independence meeting, leaving hundreds of people dead and scores injured.
Jallianwala Bagh massacre: Lost in pages of history, protest tremors that shook Punjab now in Pak
After 25 civilians were killed in Amritsar by the British police on April 10, 1919 in the days leading up to the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, the protests spread to different parts of Punjab — many of them now in Pakistan. In Lahore, protesters marched from Lahore Gate to Anarkali Bazaar raising slogans on the same evening, forcing the police to open fire and arrest nine people for “rioting”. Several protests followed in Lahore on April 12, 1919 — one in which crowd tore pictures of the British monarch, and another where Hindu leaders addressed a gathering at Lahore’s Babri mosque.
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Meanwhile, a visit to the Jallianwala Bagh in Amritsar ahead of the 100th anniversary of the massacre proved there is little oversight when it comes to vandalism of heritage sites. The Jallianwala Bagh that holds so much historical significance, is itself in need of preservation. But for the fences around the bullet-riddled red stone and the ‘Martyrs well’, the main attraction so to speak — the sanctity of the place — seems to be under threat. Read more here
Photos: Leaders across the country pay homage to victims of Jallianwala Bagh massacre
PM Modi, President Kovind, Rahul Gandhi pay respects to victims. See more pictures here bit.ly/2VIW5JB
Hundred years after Jallianwala, a survivor’s tale with some help from Rowlatt’s great grandson
Journalist Justin Rowlatt whose great grandfather Sir Sidney Rowlatt authored the infamous Act that hundreds were protesting against in Jallianwala Bagh that day, has called the Rowlatt act a “draconian piece of legislation”. Rowlatt writes that the Rowlatt Act and its repercussions were very much in his mind when he started his work in the Delhi bureau of the BBC.
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Cost of our freedom must never be forgotten: Rahul Gandhi
Congress president Rahul Gandhi paid homage to the victims of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre on its 100th anniversary today. "Today is the centenary of the brutal Jallianwalla Bagh massacre, a day of infamy that stunned the entire world and changed the course of the Indian freedom struggle. The cost of our freedom must never be forgotten."
Nation indebted to martyrs of Jallianwala: Home Minister Rajnath Singh
Home Minister Rajnath Singh tweeted, "India today observes the centenary of ghastly Jallianwala Bagh massacre at Amritsar. My heartfelt tributes and homage to everyone who sacrificed their lives at Jallianwala Bagh. Their sacrifice will never be forgotten. The nation will remain indebted to Jallianwala Bagh martyrs."
BJP leader writes to President: ‘Honour British journalist who brought out truth about massacre’
BJP leader Manoranjan Kalia has written a letter to President Ram Nath Kovind demanding a posthumous award for British journalist Benjamin Guy Horniman, who he said “narrated the truth of Jallianwala Bagh massacre by defying brutal British Censorship in 1919”.
“Benjamin Guy Horniman (1873-1948) as an editor of the paper ‘The Bombay Chronicle’ narrated the truth of Jallianwala Bagh massacre by defying brutal British censorship in 1919. He had to undergo a sentence of two years’ rigorous imprisonment. The paper ‘The Bombay Chronicle’ had to suspend its publication and Horniman was deported to Britain,” said Kalia.
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PM Modi pays tribute to Jallianwala Bagh massacre victims
Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute to the victims of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre. Taking to Twitter, PM Modi said, "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."
British High Commissioner to India lays wreath at Jalianwala Bagh memorial
British High Commissioner to India Sir Dominic Asquith lays wreath at #JalianwalaBagh memorial on commemoration of 100 years of the massacre.
British High Commissioner Dominic Asquith at Jallianwala Bagh in the centenary year of the massacre (Express photo by Gurmeet Singh)
British High Commissioner Dominic Asquith at Jallianwala Bagh in the centenary year of the massacre (Express photo by Gurmeet Singh)
British High Commissioner Dominic Asquith at Jallianwala Bagh in the centenary year of the massacre (Express photo by Gurmeet Singh)
Congress president Rahul Gandhi lays wreath at memorial
Congress President Rahul Gandhi lays wreath at Jallianwala Bagh memorial on commemoration of 100 years of the massacre. Punjab CM Captain Amarinder Singh and state minister Navjot Singh Sidhu also present.
Congress president Rahul Gandhi lays wreath at memorial (Express photo by Gurmeet Singh)
Congress president Rahul Gandhi lays wreath at memorial (Express photo by Gurmeet Singh)