The former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi has while referring to the ongoing criticism in social media Twitter etc with regard to the innovation of the Jalianwala Bagh memorial adding lights and making it glittering, giving it a luxurious or grandeur look criticised his political rivals n saffron party without naming it accusing them of insult to those who sacrificed their lives at Jalianwala Bagh. In two tweets Rahul Gandhi wrote: only they can insult the martyrs of Jalianwala Bagh who do not know the meaning of martyrdom. He added that he himself is the son of a martyr and will therefore never tolerate this insult to our martyrs terming it as a cruel insult of them in his tweet. In another tweet Rahul Gandhi wrote Those who haven’t ever struggled for India’s freedom, can’t understand those who fought for the nation and gave supreme sacrifices.
It may be recalled that the Jalianwala Bagh controversy erupted after several opposition leaders like Sita Ram Yechury of CPM etc has criticised the government for reconstruction/ innovation of the Jalianwala Bagh memorial by adding provocative lights to it making it grandeur giving a luxuries look. The former Congress president Rahul Gandhi has shared the news related to this controversy/ criticism in his Twitter handle and blamed the present ruling political dispensation of insulting as well as destroying the historical facts about the martyrs etc. The Communist Party of India leader n former Member of Parliament Sitaram Yechury has in his statement said that only those who had been away from independence struggle could insult the martyrs.
A Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi too was annoyed and tweeted : Call me a traditional Indian but I am not a fan of installing disco lights on institutions of importance and dignity. Such pomp reduces the gravity and horror of Jalianwala Bagh Smarak to base entertainment. Similarly the strobe lights on parliament are also appalling tweeted Congress MP Gogoi annexing the tweet of prime minister Narendra Modi saying : Join me as we inaugurate the renovated complex of Jallianwala Bagh Smarak today at 6.25 PM. It would display the…… . It may be recalled that prime minister Narendra Modi has inaugurated the newly constructed n renovated Jalianwala Bagh Memorial adding grandeur to itit. The Jwala Smarak and Lily Lake has also been reconstructed including roads widened for the convenience of the people n tourists who visit this historic martyrdom memorial from all over India n even abroad to pay their tributes to the martyrs of 1919. The entire memorial and it’s vicinity including surrounding area have been reconstructed, beautified and including plantation, widening of roads and lights fitted in abundant number to facelift this historic memorial.
The historic Jalianwala Bagh massacre that shook the entire country n the world took place on 13 th April 1919 also known as Amritsar massacre when a then cruel British Brigadier general Dyer ordered unprovoked firing on hundreds of peaceful protesters killing them on the spot in which several children, women, senior citizens and youth died. The protestors were demanding the release of Dr. Saifuddin Kitchlu and Satyapal, then freedom fighters. Several children, women and youths including senior citizens jumped inside the well in order to protect themselves from the British bullets but died. About 300 to 1000 people had martyred themselves with about 1600 grievously injured as the cruel brigadier had blocked the narrow exit nit allowing the terrified protestors flee from there. Finally freedom fighter and revolutionary Udham Singh avenged by killing General Dyer in England.
Above featured photo : India Today
