As India marks the 100th anniversary of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, one of the bloodiest chapter in the history of India, Hundreds of people, including Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Saturday paid floral tributes to those who lost their lives in the massacre.
Rahul said the cost of freedom must never be forgotten.
“Today is the centenary of the brutal Jallianwala Bagh massacre, a day of infamy that stunned the entire world and changed the course of the Indian freedom struggle. The cost of our freedom must never be forgotten,” said Rahul Gandhi.
Rahul, who was accompanied by Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, state minister Navjot Singh Sidhu and some other Congress leaders, paid floral tributes at the memorial inside the Jallianwala Bagh.
Rahul arrived in Amritsar on Friday night and offered prayers at the Golden Temple.
British High Commissioner to India Dominic Asquith, who also visited the Jallianwala Bagh and laid a wreath at the memorial, wrote in his visitors’ book, “The events of Jallianwala Bagh 100 years ago today reflect a shameful act in British Indian history. We deeply regret what happened and the suffering caused. I am pleased today that the UK and India have and remain committed to developing further a thriving 21st-century partnership.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said India pays tributes to all those martyred on that fateful day.
“Today, when we observe 100 years of the horrific Jallianwala Bagh massacre, India pays tributes to all those martyred on that fateful day. Their valour and sacrifice will never be forgotten. Their memory inspires us to work even harder to build an India they would be proud of,” PM Modi tweeted.
President Ram Nath Kovind took to his twitter account and tweeted, “A 100 years ago today, our beloved freedom fighters were martyred at Jallianwala Bagh. A horrific massacre, a stain on civilisation, that day of sacrifice can never be forgotten by India. At this solemn moment, we pay our tribute to the immortals of Jallianwala.”
