UK envoy skirts apology question

› I know this is a really important question (apology). I want you to respect for what I came here to do —- to express the sorrow of the British govt and of our people. DOMINIC ASQUITH, British high commissioner to India

AMRITSAR: The British high commissioner to India, Dominic Asquith, on Saturday termed the firing by troops led by Colonel Reginald Dyer on peaceful protesters at Jallianwala Bagh on April 13, 1919, “a shameful act”, but skirted the question on a formal apology by his country.

Asquith laid a wreath at the memorial to pay homage to those killed in the firing in the backdrop of emerging voices seeking formal apology from Britain on the centenary of the carnage.

Asked as why an apology was not tendered by their government, Asquith said, “I know this is a really important question. I will just ask you to respect for what I came here to do, which is to express the sorrow of the British government and of the British people. Also, commemoration is personally important to me. But it comes with the full support of my government and people.”

“The events of Jallianwala Bagh 100 years ago reflect a shameful act in British-Indian history. We deeply regret what happened and the suffering caused. In am pleased today that the UK and India have and remain committed to developing further a thriving 21 century partnership,” he wrote in the visitor’s book.

Earlier this week, British PM Theresa May expressed “regret” over the killing of innocent people 100 years ago but stopped short of tendering a formal apology, a long-pending demand.

Later, interacting with the media, Asquith said their PM earlier this week termed the massacre a “shameful scar” on the British-Indian history, adding that the issue is being debated in Parliament again.

He recalled that May’s predecessor

David Cameron during his visit to India had also expressed regret over the massacre. He added that Queen Elizabeth II had spoken of the incident as a distressing incident during her visit to Amritsar in 1997.

“We might not rewrite the history but as Queen (Elizabeth II)

said we can learn a lesson from it. My great grandfather HH Asquith, who was prime minister of Britain from 1908 to 1916, had referred to the massacre as outrageous. The revulsion we felt at the time is still strong today. It tarnished our reputation,” he said.