SOMBRE CEREMONY AT JALLIANWALA
REMEMBRANCE Releases commemorative coin, a postage stamp to mark the centenary event
100 YEARS OF MASSACRE: Vice-president M Venkaiah Naidu (second from left) with Punjab governor VP Singh Badnore, state school education minister OP Soni and state BJP chief Shwait Malik after paying tribute to the martyrs at Jallianwala Bagh in Amritsar.
› Today, when we observe 100 years of the massacre, India pays tributes to martyrs ... Their sacrifice will never be forgotten. Their memory inspires us to work harder to build an India they would be proud of
› NARENDRA MODI, PM on Twitter It is an occasion to shed a silent tear for every innocent Indian who lost life that Baisakhi day and is a moment of reflection on colonial cruelty. It evokes in me a deep sense of sadness. M VENKAIAH NAIDU, vice-prez in visitor’s book at Jallianwala Bagh
AMRITSAR:Vice-president M Venkaiah Naidu on Saturday said the pain caused by massacre of innocent civilians at Jallianwala Bagh in Amritsar on April 13, 1919, continues to rankle every Indian.
Naidu, who paid tributes to those killed in the massacre by placing a wreath at the memorial during a ceremony organised by the Union ministry of culture, released a commemorative coin and a postage stamp to mark the centenary of the black day.
In the visitor’s book, he wrote, “I feel extremely humbled as I pay my homage to the martyrs who sacrificed their lives fighting the evil hegemony of the oppressive British rule. This place and the centenary commemoration ceremony evoke in me a deep sense of sadness at the tragic loss of human lives and also a profound pride at conviction and courage of these brave soldiers of Indian freedom movement.”
Later, he tweeted that the carnage is a reminder of our hardwon freedom. “It is an occasion to shed a silent tear for every innocent Indian who lost life on that Baisakhi day and is a poignant moment of reflection on colonial cruelty. The pain and agony continue to rankle every Indian,” he tweeted.
He was apprised of the plan to give Jallianwala Bagh a facelift.
Accompanied by Punjab governor VP Singh Badnore, state BJP chief Shwait Malik, school education minister OP Soni, Naidu also visited a photo exhibition at Jallianwala Bagh. The exhibition comprised 45 panels dedicated to the incident, including excerpts from the newspapers of the time, letters of Mahatma Gandhi, Rabindra Nath Tagore and other prominent leaders.
ONE-UPMANSHIP MARS FUNCTION
The massacre centenary commemoration event remained lowkey and drew poor public response on Saturday, with political one-upmanship between the Congress, the ruling party in the state, and the BJP-led central government, dominating the occasion.
The state and central governments organised separate events, spoiling the commemoration function to a great extent. The main event, organised by the Union ministry of culture, was relatively small. More than 70 per cent pandals remained empty even when vice-president M Venkaiah Naidu was there. Naidu spent only half an hour at Jallianwala Bagh.
Also, chaotic scenes were witnessed during the function. Many of the visitors did not bother to attend the function. The relatives of the martyrs were disappointed as there was no seating arrangement for them.
“There were few chairs in the pandal for sitting of families of freedom fighters. So, many of us had to sit on the ground. Actually, this was not an official function, it was a party function,” said Rajinder Singh Bhullar, son of freedom fighter Bhan Singh.
PM MODI PAYS TRIBUTES TO MARTYRS
NEW DELHI: The memory of those killed in the Jallianwala Bagh massacre serves as an inspiration to work for an India they would be proud of, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Saturday on the centenary of the tragic event.
“Today, when we observe 100 years of the horrific Jallianwala Bagh massacre, India pays tributes to all those martyred ... 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,” Modi tweeted.
Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) president Mayawati, in a tweet, also paid homage to those killed in the massacre 100 years back and sought an apology from the British. “On the centenary of the Jallianwala tragedy, our homage to martyrs & sympathy to the family members who sacrificed their lives for the country. It would have been most gratifying had the Indian govt. succeeded in extracting an apology from the British for this gruesome massacre,” she wrote on Twitter.