The Mayor of London, , today (Wednesday 6 December)
called on the UK Government to make a full and formal apology to
the people of Amritsar and India for the Jallianwala Bagh
massacre.
During a visit to the Jallianwala Bagh memorial and garden, the
Mayor paid his respects to those who were killed there in 1919,
and made it clear that, almost 100 years on from the dreadful
event, the British Government should formally apologise on behalf
of the British politicians of the time.
The British Government has never extended a formal apology for
the massacre, which killed hundreds of people and injured many
more.
The Jallianwala Bagh Massacre is considered to be one of the most
tragic events in Indian history. On Sunday 13 April 1919, during
the celebration of Vaisakhi, 50 British Indian Army soldiers,
commanded by Brigadier-General Reginald Dyer, began shooting at
an unarmed gathering of civilians, who were taking part in a
peaceful protest. It is thought that 379 people were killed, but
the figure is still disputed.
extended his apologies during
today’s visit but made it clear that a formal Government apology
should have been given decades ago and that, ahead of the
centenary of the massacre, it is more important now than ever
that the Government properly acknowledges what happened at
Jallianwala Bagh to ensure something like this can never happen
again.
The Mayor of London, , said: “The Jallianwala
Bagh massacre is one of the most horrific events in Indian
history. It is wrong that successive British governments have
fallen short of delivering a formal apology to the families of
those who were killed.
“I’m clear that the Government should now apologise, especially
as we reach the centenary of the massacre. This is about properly
acknowledging what happened here and giving the people of
Amritsar and India the closure they need through a formal
apology.
“During my visit to this amazing country and the Jallianwala Bagh
memorial and gardens, I’ve heard how the scars of the massacre
are still felt in Amritsar. Although our two great countries now
have a close relationship in business, culture, education and
more, an apology from the British Government will go a long way
in healing the wounds left by this awful event.”
At the Jallianwala Bagh memorial and garden, the Mayor met with
ancestors of those who escaped the massacre and laid a wreath at
the foot of the memorial to pay his respects. The Jallianwala
Bagh National Memorial Trust was founded in 1920 to build the
memorial at the site. The memorial was inaugurated in 1961 and
serves as a way to remember those who died and were injured in
the massacre.
Earlier this morning in Amritsar also visited Sri Harmandir
Sahib, often known as the Golden Temple, which is the most
important pilgrimage site of Sikhism.
Today’s visit forms part of the Mayor’s six-day mission to India
and Pakistan to strengthen their cultural and economic ties with
London. Sadiq is the first major British politician to embark on
a trade mission to both countries in recent times.
ENDS
Notes to editors
- Previous British governments have apologised for atrocities.
In the last seven years alone:
- In 2010, apologised for the
Child Migrant Programme which saw children in care sent to
British colonies and announced £6m fund aimed at restoring
families that were torn apart by the scheme.
- Also in 2010, gave a formal state
apology in the Commons on the day of the Bloody Sunday
report. He acknowledged that all those who died were unarmed
when they were killed by British soldiers and that a British
soldier had fired the first shot at civilians. He also said
that this was not a premeditated action, though "there was no
point in trying to soften or equivocate" as "what happened
should never, ever have happened". Cameron then apologised on
behalf of the British Government by saying he was "deeply
sorry".
