UK ‘reflecting’ on apology demand over Jallianwala

The UK government is "reflecting" on demands for a formal apology for the Jallianwala Bagh massacre in April 1919 during the British Raj, a minister told the House of Lords during a debate to mark the centenary of the attack.

During a debate titled 'Amritsar Massacre: Centenary' in the Upper House on Tuesday evening, Baroness Annabel Goldie also confirmed plans to mark 100 years since the tragedy "in the most appropriate and respectful way".

"The government at the time, as we know, roundly condemned the atrocity, but it is the case that no subsequent government have apologised," said Baroness Goldie, who holds the post of government whip and Baroness-in Waiting in the Lords.

"I understand that the reason is that governments have considered that history cannot be rewritten and it is important that we do not get trapped by the past," she said.

However, she made specific reference to oral evidence given by UK Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt to the Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee in October last year in reference to the centenary being an appropriate time for a formal apology.

She noted: "The Foreign Secretary responded by saying: 'That is a very profound thought; let me reflect on that, but I can understand why that could be a potentially very significant gesture'.