PM inaugurates renovated Jallianwala Bagh

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, August 28

Stressing that it was a country’s duty to protect its history, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today dedicated to the nation the renovated complex of Jallianwala Bagh memorial in Amritsar.

Inaugurating the complex virtually, Modi said the dreams of innocent people were still visible in the bullet marks on the walls of Jallianwala Bagh. He said horrors like the Jallianwala Bagh massacre and Partition spoke of the sacrifices made for India’s freedom and should not be forgotten as these inspired to keep the country above all.

Recounting the impact of the ghastly 10-minute incident in Jallianwala Bagh on April 13, 1919, the PM said, “It inspired countless revolutionaries and freedom fighters, including martyrs Bhagat Singh and Udham Singh, to die for the cause of free India.” Those 10 minutes, he said, became immortal in the Indian freedom struggle, due to which the country was able to celebrate the Amrut Mahotsav of freedom today.

Modi said it was the responsibility of every nation to preserve its history as it taught the countrymen and gave them the direction to move forward. “Therefore, we have decided to observe August 14 every year as Partition Horrors Remembrance Day. India witnessed horrors like Jallianwala Bagh and many more during Partition… Punjab people have been the biggest victims of Partition,” he said.

Underlining the brave tradition of Punjab, he said following the path of Gurus, sons and daughters of the state had stood fearlessly against all dangers facing the country.

Noting that efforts were on to preserve this rich heritage, the PM said, “Fortunately, auspicious occasions like the 550th Parkash Utsav of Guru Nanak Dev, 350th of Guru Gobind Singh and 400th of Guru Teg Bahadur had taken place in the last seven years and the Union Government has tried to spread the teachings of the Gurus through these holy occasions.”

He also mentioned about initiatives like turning Sultanpur Lodhi into a heritage town and Kartarpur corridor. He said it was due to ‘Guru Kripa’ (blessings of the Gurus) that the government was able to bring the ‘swaroop’ of Guru Granth Sahib along with stranded citizens back to India.