Jallianwala Bagh Smarak must serve as reminder to future generations of people’s right to peaceful democratic protest

Chandigarh, Aug 28 (UNI) Describing the newly renovated Jallianwala Bagh Smarak as a tribute to the great martyrs and a symbol of inspiration for the youth, Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh on Saturday said the monument must serve as a reminder for the future generations about the right of the people to peaceful democratic protest.

In what was apparently an oblique reference to the ongoing agitation of the peacefully protesting farmers, the Chief Minister said the Smarak, along with the Jallianwala Bagh centenary memorial recently dedicated to the people by the state government, should serve to remind our leaders of the inalienable right of Indians to conduct peaceful democratic protests, which could not be stifled, as the British also learnt from the Jallianwala Bagh incident.

The Smarak and the Centenary Memorial established by the state government “seek to pay tribute to the great martyrs so that history may always remember their sacrifice and our present and future generations can draw inspiration from their patriotism,” said the Chief Minister, in his brief remarks before Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually dedicated the Jallianwala Bagh National Memorial (Smarak) to the nation.

Capt Amarinder also requested the Prime Minister that the Union Government should use its good offices to bring back the personal effects, i.e. pistol and personal diary of Shaheed Udham Singh, who avenged the injustice of this massacre, from United Kingdom to India. He said he had already written to External Affairs Minister Dr Jaishankar in this regard.

The event was also attended, among others, by several union ministers, Punjab Governor, Leader of the Opposition and the Jallianwala Bagh trustees, along with several MPs and MLAs. Families of the Jallianwala massacre martyrs were also present.
The occasion was marked by a two-minute silence in the memory of the martyrs, following the sounding of the bugle.