"I'm A Martyr's Son": Rahul Gandhi Joins Outrage Over Jallianwala Revamp

The renovated Jallianwala Bagh and the gaudy lights show have been criticised by historians, opposition leaders and members of the public, who have accused the government of destroying history

Congress MP Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday joined the growing outrage over the renovation of the 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. Those who didn't struggle for freedom can't understand those who did. 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 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. #JallianwalaBaghhttps://t.co/01rAIIkA2W This is corporatisation of monuments, where they end up as modern structures, losing the heritage value. Look after them without meddling with the flavours of the period these memorials represent. https://t.co/H1dXQMmft7 Devastated to hear that Jallianwala Bagh, site of the Amritsar Massacre of 1919, has been revamped - which means that the last traces of the event have effectively been erased. This is what I wrote of the memorial in my book, describing a space that has now itself become history. pic.twitter.com/GypQfrOulq In two tweets (one each in Hindi and English) Mr Gandhi 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. Mr Gandhi attached a screenshot of a media report showing the light and laser display that accompanied the re-opening - an extravagant display that has generated further anger.