Rejecting the regret expressed by British Prime Minister Theresa May as inadequate, Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Friday demanded an unequivocal official apology from Britain for the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, whose centenary is being observed tomorrow.On the event of the centenary, and as part of the various events organized by the Punjab Government to mark the historic occasion, Captain Amarinder joined Governor VPS Badnore here this evening to light up the memories of the martyrs of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, leading thousands of people from all walks of life in paying homage to the martyrs with a historic candle light march.The march started from the historic Townhall and culminated at the Jallianwala Bagh Memorial. The air along the route was rent with slogans of `Inquilab Zindabad’ as Captain Amarinder and Governor Badnore joined the people in lighting candles at the memorial.Terming the tragic event as a heart-wrenching moment in India’s history, the Chief Minister said in an informal chat later to mediapersons that the people of India wanted an unequivocal apology from Britain for the atrocity. The Punjab Vidhan Sabha had passed a resolution demanding the same, he pointed out, adding that the tragedy was one of the most horrific examples of colonial excess and the massacre was a moral blot on the face of Britain.
The candles that had been lit today had rekindled memories of the sad day and would serve as a reminder of the sacrifice of the hundreds who were killed in the massacre and went on become an inspiring source of patriotism and nationalism for generations of Indians, said the Chief Minister.Captain Amarinder, who is scheduled to pay floral tributes tomorrow at the Jallianwala Bagh Memorial along with Congress President Rahul Gandhi, also met the families/descendants of some of the martyrs. Several eminent personalities, political leaders and members of various NGOs, Social Religious and Voluntary organisations also took part in the candle light march with zealous fervor and nationalistic spirit. Prominent amongst those present at the occasion included AICC Punjab Incharge Asha Kumari, president PPCC Sunil Jakhar, Cabinet Ministers Sukhbinder Singh Sarkaria, OP Soni, MLAs Raj Kumar Verka, Inderbir Singh Bolaria, Sunil Dutti.The brutal massacre had taken place on April 13, 2019, when, in the backdrop of the tyrannical Rowlatt Bill which aimed to curtail civic liberties and the subsequent Satyagraha launched by Mahatma Gandhi Ji, thousands had come to Amritsar to celebrate Baisakhi. The crowd had assembled peacefully at the Bagh to condemn the arrest of two national leaders Satya Pal and Saifuddin Kitchlew when they were fired indiscriminately by tyrant British General Dyer and his men. The shooting had continued for ten minutes claiming 379 lives as per government estimates, though the figure is believed to be much higher.