Says event ‘shameful’, hasn’t been forgotten
British High Commissioner to India Alex Ellis termed the Jallianwala Bagh massacre a “shameful event” and expressed “regret” during a visit to the site on Wednesday, June 15, a report in The Tribune, Chandigarh, said.
Accompanied by Deputy High Commissioner Caroline Rowett, he also visited the Golden Temple.
Paying homage to the martyrs, Ellis referred to the massacre that took place on April 13, 1919, as a “dark day” in the long and complex history of the UK and India.
Before leaving, he wrote in the visitors’ book: “What happened in Jallianwala Bagh was shameful… We deeply regret what happened and the suffering caused. It is not forgotten.” Similarly, Rowett wrote: “I echo the sentiments of the High Commissioner”.
Earlier, the UK diplomats along with their families visited the Golden Temple, where SGPC chief Harjinder Singh Dhami apprised them of the Sikh customs and traditions.
Entry fee for Jallianwala Bagh?
Are the authorities planning to charge an entry fee to the Jallianwala Bagh? The authorities have denied it. Yet, the new addition of a room near the main entrance (supposedly a ticket counter and the automated entry barriers alongside) does raise doubts.
An official said originally, a proposal for paid entry was mooted on the lines of other monuments like the Taj Mahal in Agra and Jantar Mantar or Qutab Minar in Delhi to meet maintenance charges, but it was stalled after a public protest.
Denying it, former MP and one of the trustees of the Jallianwala Bagh National Memorial Trust Tarlochan Singh said unlike other monuments, the Jallianwala Bagh is the only exception which is being looked after by the Parliamentary Trust headed by the Prime Minister and Ministry of Culture is the custodian which has the liability to maintain it.
“The access to the historical site will be totally free. Still, I believe that the automated barriers and the structure raise suspicion. I have requested to remove the ticket counter structure and the e-ticketing machines which was not done yet. Still, I will talk to the Ministry of Culture in this regard,” he said.
********************************************************
Readers
These are extraordinary times. All of us have to rely on high-impact, trustworthy journalism. And this is especially true of the Indian Diaspora. Members of the Indian community overseas cannot be fed with inaccurate news.
Pravasi Samwad is a venture that has no shareholders. It is the result of an impassioned initiative of a handful of Indian journalists spread around the world. We have taken the small step forward with the pledge to provide news with accuracy, free from political and commercial influence. Our aim is to keep you, our readers, informed about developments at ‘home’ and across the world that affect you.
Please help us to keep our journalism independent and free.
In these difficult times, to run a news website requires finances. While every contribution, big or small, will makes a difference, we request our readers to put us in touch with advertisers worldwide. It will be a great help.
For more information: pravasisamwad00@gmail.com