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tragedy,” the resolution said. the Partition Museum at Town Hall in The Chief Minister has asked the
“This August House thus unani- Amritsar to conceptualize and plan the Principal Secretary Cultural Affairs to
mously recommends to the state gov- monument. coordinate with all the concerned de-
ernment to take up this matter with the The official note further said, “The partments to ensure a grand function
government of India to impress upon CM has urged the Principal Secretary at Amritsar on April 13, this year.
the British government to officially Cultural Affairs to coordinate with all The Chief Minister directed the Cul-
apologise for the massacre of innocent the related departments to ensure a tural Affairs department to organise
people at Jallianwala Bagh,Amritsar, “ grand function at Amritsar on 13th commemorative functions at historic
the resolution said. Opposition parties April, 2019. Capt. Amarinder has also di- places like Sunam Udham Singh Wala,
AAP,SAD-BJP and Lok Insaaf Party sup- rected the ACS Home to make detailed Khatkar Kalan, Jagraon, Malerkotla etc
ported the resolution. security arrangements to ensure has- associated with freedom fighters and
In the centenary year of the Jallian- sle-free access to the public for paying martyrs of the national independence
wala Bagh Massacre and to commem- respects to the martyrs at the Memorial. struggle.
orate the tragic event, Punjab Gov- He said the devotees visiting Sri Darbar Capt Amarinder suggested that
ernment on Friday decided to build a Sahib must not be put to any type of in- the Department of School Education
memorial in Amritsar with soil from all convenience caused during the cente- should include a chapter in its curricu-
the 13,000 villages of the state to eulo- nary commemorations”. lum on the Jallianwala Bagh carnage to
gise the immense contribution of Pun- imbibe the spirit of patriotism and na-
jabis in the national freedom struggle. tionalism amongst the students.
The decision got the go-ahead from The Punjab assembly Apprising the Chief Minister about
the Chief Minister during a meeting the the decisions taken by the State Level
State Level Implementation Committee has unanimously Implementation Committee, Tourism
regarding Centenary Commemoration passed a resolution and Cultural Affairs Minister Navjot
of Jallianwala Bagh Massacre here. Singh Sidhu said that with a special
The Rural Development and Pan- seeking an apology focus on the Jallianwala Bagh massa-
chayats has been designed the nodal from Britain for the cre, the Art and Culture Heritage Trust
department to coordinate with the would organise a Heritage Walk in the
Panchayats of the nearly 13,000 villages massacre. Punjab’s old Amritsar town, in addition to an ex-
across the State for this cause. The Chief parliamentary affairs hibition depicting some known and un-
Minister has also asked the Deputy known facts about the massacre. Apart
Commissioner Amritsar to identify a minister Brahm from these, an exhibition would also be
strategic spot in the city, where a suit- held in 10 cities of the state to highlight
able memorial would be erected with Mohindra, moved the the saga of the Indian freedom struggle.
the soil brought from these villages. In resolution It was also informed in the meeting
a unique tribute to the martyrs of Jalli- by the Principal Secretary Cultural Af-
anwala Bagh carnage on the centenary fairs that a coffee table book on Jallian-
commemoration of the tragic event, Besides building the memorial, wala Bagh was being prepared with the
the government of Punjab is planning Punjab CM suggested that the School help and guidance of Punjab Lalit Kala
to build a memorial in Amritsar with Education Department should include Academy. A two-day Jallianwala Bagh
the soil from 13,000 villages in the state. a chapter in its syllabus on the Jallian- centenary Lit-Fest would be organised
An official note issued by the Chief wala Bagh massacre in order to “imbibe in GNDU Amritsar and dramas in Hindi
Minister’s office stated that the Rural the spirit of nationalism and patriotism and Punjabi would be organised by
Development & Panchayats have been amongst the students.” Capt. Amarinder North Zone Cultural Centre in associa-
designated as the nodal department to also asked the ACS Higher Education tion with National School of Drama.
coordinate with the villages Panchayats and Secretary School Education to con- Will United Kingdom tender an
all across Punjab for this noble cause. duct seminars, symposiums, declama- apology for the Jallianwala Bagh mas-
Chief Minister Capt. Amarinder tion contests & panel discussions on the sacre is to seen but surely it will sooth
Singh has asked Amritsar Deputy Com- different aspects of the tragedy. the feelings of people and provide a
missioner to recognize a strategic spot Capt Amarinder has directed the balm over the wounded psyche of In-
in the city where the memorial could Cultural Affairs and Tourism Depart- dian population. Punjab government
be constructed with soil brought from ment to engage with the Arts and Cul- has acted in right direction but UK is
all the villages. He also asked the Cul- tural Heritage Trust, which had created to show its sincerity and tender an
tural Affairs and Tourism Department the Partition Museum at Town Hall, apology.
to get involved with the Arts and Cul- Amritsar, to conceptualise and plan the
tural Heritage Trust, which had made Jallianwala memorial. letters@tehelka.com

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