Mr Gandhi also targeted the extravagant display which included the light and laser show that accompanied the re-opening.
Jallianwala Bagh in Punjab – where over 1,000 people died 102 years ago after the British, led by General Dyer, opened fire on thousands of men and women holding a peaceful protest, holds a significant place in the history of India and its fight for independence. However, the revamp of the site by the Modi government, including the renovation of memorial and flashy lights show, have invited fierce criticism from all ends.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday joined the growing outrage over the renovation of the Jallianwala Bagh.
The Wayanad MP, in two tweets (one each in Hindi and English), lashed out at “those who didn’t struggle for freedom” and said that he, as “the son of a martyr”, “will not tolerate this insult… at any cost”.
“Such an insult to the martyrs of Jallianwala Bagh can only be done by those who do not know the meaning of martyrdom. I am the son of a martyr – I will not tolerate the insult of martyrs at any cost. We are against this indecent cruelty,” he tweeted in Hindi.
जलियाँवाला बाग़ के शहीदों का ऐसा अपमान वही कर सकता है जो शहादत का मतलब नहीं जानता।
मैं एक शहीद का बेटा हूँ- शहीदों का अपमान किसी क़ीमत पर सहन नहीं करूँगा।
हम इस अभद्र क्रूरता के ख़िलाफ़ हैं। pic.twitter.com/3tWgsqc7Lx
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) August 31, 2021
Mr Gandhi also targeted the extravagant display which included the light and laser show that accompanied the re-opening.
“Those who didn’t struggle for freedom can’t understand those who did,” he tweeted in English.
CPM leader Sitaram Yechury said, “Only those who stayed away from the epic freedom struggle can scandalise thus”.
Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi tweeted: Call me a traditional Indian but I am not a fan of installing disco lights on institutions of importance and dignity. Such pomp reduces the gravity and horror of the Jallianwala Bagh to base entertainment…”
Call me a traditional Indian but I am not a fan of installing disco lights on institutions of importance and dignity. Such pomp reduces the gravity and horror of the Jallianwala Bagh Smarak to base entertainment. Similarly the strobe lights on Parliament are also appalling. https://t.co/ZesKZtKNKD
— Gaurav Gogoi (@GauravGogoiAsm) August 30, 2021
Shiv Sena MP Priyanka Chaturvedi said: “The pain was real, the loss was immense, the tragedy was unforgettable. Sometimes the places evoke pain and serve as a reminder to what we lost and what we fought for. Trying to ‘beautify’ or ‘modify’ those memories is doing great damage to our collective history.”
The pain was real, the loss was immense, the tragedy was unforgettable. Sometimes the places evoke pain&serve as a reminder to what we lost&what we fought for. Trying to ‘beautify’ or ‘modify’ those memories is doing great damage to our collective history. #JallianwalaBagh https://t.co/01rAIIkA2W
— Priyanka Chaturvedi (@priyankac19) August 30, 2021
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