Jallianwala Bagh in dismal state: Rajya Sabha MP

Neeraj Bagga

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, January 3

Rajya Sabha MP Shwait Malik has sought resignation of Congress leaders Ambika Soni, Varinder Kataria and HS Hanspal from the management committee of the Jallianwala Bagh as he alleged that the monumental park was in a dismal state.

After a visit to the historic Bagh today, he said the light and sound show with a voiceover by legendary actor Amitabh Bachchan had been lying unused for the past four years.

He said that while dusty paths show a lack of maintenance, there were many lights which were lying non-functional. The MP announced a grant of Rs 10 lakh for the maintenance and upkeep of the Bagh.

The light and sound show was a hit among spectators visiting the monumental park and helped them comprehend one of the most gruesome attacks on people during the colonial rule and the valour of freedom fighters who refused to cow down before the threats of foreign rulers. The 52-minute light and sound show was discontinued after the system had developed some technical problems some months after its installation.

In the show, Bollywood actor Amitabh Bachchan’s voice could be heard narrating the massacre in Hindi, his voice synchronising with the special effects of lights that highlighted various monuments at the park, including the original bullet-riddled wall and the martyrs’ well.

An 18-minute documentary, which was shown through a projector daily in seven shows in a 50-seater hall at the park, too lies discontinued for long. The software used for the show is learnt to have developed a technical snag, which could not be revived to date.