Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry on Thursday said he “fully endorses the demand that the British empire apologise for the Jallianwala Bagh massacre and Bengal famine.”
Chaudhry took to Twitter and said, “Fully endorse the demand that British empire must apologise to the nations of Pakistan, India and Bangladesh on Jallianwala Massacre and Bengal famine. These tragedies are the scar on the face of Britain.”
Fully endorse the demand that British empire must apologise to the nations of Pakistan, India and Bangladesh on Jallianwala Massacre and Bengal famine .. these tragedies are the scar on the face of Britain, also KohENoor must be returned to Lahore museum where it belongs
— Ch Fawad Hussain (@fawadchaudhry) April 11, 2019
The April 13, 1919 Jallianwala Bagh massacre, in which British troops opened fire on thousands of unarmed protesters, remains an enduring tragedy from the British colonial rule in the Indian subcontinent.
Colonial-era records show about 400 people died in the northern city of Amritsar when soldiers opened fire on men, women and children in an enclosed area, but local figures put the toll at closer to 1,000.
Moreover, the information minister demanded that the Koh-i-Noor, a 105-carat and one of the world’s largest diamonds which has been part of the British crown jewels for 150 years, “be returned to Lahore museum where it belongs.”
Chaudhry’s statement comes a day after British Prime Minister Theresa May expressed regret for the massacre by British troops in 1919 but stopped short of a full apology.
“We deeply regret what happened and the suffering caused,” May told the British parliament, as India prepares to mark the 100th anniversary of the killings.
Jeremy Corbyn, leader of the main opposition Labour Party, called for “a full, clear and unequivocal apology”.
Former British Prime Minister David Cameron described it as “deeply shameful” during a visit in 2013 but also stopped short of an apology.
A ceremony will take place at the site of the massacre on Saturday.
