APD | India: UK considers apologising for Jallianwala massacre

By APD writer Rishika Chauhan

NEW DELHI, Feb.21(APD)-According to recent reports, Britain is “reflecting” on issuing an apology over the Jallianwala Bagh massacre that happened in 1919 in Amritsar in the province of Punjab, while the latter was a UK colony. 

Annabel Goldie, a senior UK official said, “The Foreign Secretary, Jeremy Hunt is currently… reflecting on the situation and I can say that the views expressed in this debate are certainly noted and will be conveyed back to the department.’’

“We must also look forward to the future and do all we can to prevent atrocities from happening,” she further said.

The issue was brought up during a debate in the House of Lords of UK Parliament.

Indian-origin British parliament members, Lord Meghnad Desai and Lord Raj Loomba, initiated the debate, citing episodes when Britain had apologised to their former colonies for their actions and policies.

On Wednesday, the issue was also discussed in Punjab assembly in Chandigarh. The assembly members unanimously passed a resolution asking the UK to apologise for the massacre. 

Brahm Mohindra, who moved the resolution in Punjab assembly said, “It is high time for India to prevail upon the British government to tender an apology to assuage the bruised psyche of our countrymen and the Indian diaspora across the globe.” 

It has been a century since the bloodbath, which took place on April 13, 1919 in the town of Amritsar on the festival of Baisakhi. 

On the day, British troops opened fire on thousands of people who had gathered at Jallianwala Bagh to peacefully protest an act enacted by the British, which was detrimental to the interests of Indians. More than 1600 people died in the massacre.

(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)