Rahul Gandhi slams government's Jallianwala Bagh memorial revamp
What's the story
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday termed the government's revamp of the Jallianwala Bagh memorial an "insult to martyrs," saying only a person who does not know the meaning of martyrdom can inflict such an insult.
The former Congress chief's attack came after Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday dedicated to the nation the renovated complex of Jallianwala Bagh memorial.
Inauguration
PM Modi digitally inaugurated the museum galleries at the memorial
During the event, Modi digitally inaugurated the museum galleries at the memorial. The event showcased multiple development initiatives undertaken by the government to upgrade the complex.
Tagging a report on the social media outrage over the revamp of the memorial, Gandhi tweeted, "Only a person who does not know the meaning of martyrdom can inflict such an insult on the martyrs of Jallianwala Bagh."
Twitter Post
Here is Gandhi's tweet
Those who didn’t struggle for freedom can’t understand those who did.
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) August 31, 2021
Quote
I will not tolerate the insult of martyrs: Gandhi
"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. In another tweet, Gandhi said those who didn't struggle for freedom can't understand those who did.
Twitter Post
Here is what Gandhi further tweeted in Hindi
जलियाँवाला बाग़ के शहीदों का ऐसा अपमान वही कर सकता है जो शहादत का मतलब नहीं जानता।
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) August 31, 2021
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
History
It is a country's duty to protect its history: PM
Stressing that it is a country's duty to protect its history, Prime Minister Modi had said that events of the past "teach us and give us direction to move forward."
As part of the inaugural event, a wreath-laying ceremony was also held and a two-minute silence was observed in the memory of those killed in the Jallianwala Bagh massacre.
Show
Sound and light show was held to depict the events
A sound and light show was held to depict the events of the day of the massacre.
Over 1,000 people were killed and hundreds wounded on April 13, 1919, when British troops fired indiscriminately on an unarmed gathering of thousands who had assembled in Jallianwala Bagh amid nationwide protests against the Rowlatt Act which had extended wartime repressive measures.