'Their Great Sacrifice Inspires Us': PM Modi, President Lead Tributes To Martyrs Of Jallianwala Bagh Massacre

The Jallianwala Bagh Massacre is one of the tragic and darkest events in the Indian history that led to the killing of several unarmed Indians.

Jallianwala Bagh Massacre

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Jallianwala Bagh massacre, also known as the Amritsar massacre, was a turning point in India's struggle for freedom. On this day in 1919, non-violent protesters demonstrating against the Rowlatt Act that gave the British the power to arrest anyone without any trial, were subjected to unprovoked firing by the British Indian Army troops, commanded by Colonel Reginald Dyer. Several hundreds died and many more were injured, with the victims also including Baisakhi pilgrims.

The colonial government had passed the Rowlatt Act aimed at curbing protests. The Act gave power to the police to arrest any person without a reason.  

History

British military officer General Dyer had ordered a curfew and ban on public gatherings throughout Amritsar. After he received information about a gathering, he issued orders to shoot at the crowd without any warning. It is estimated that there were over 20,000 people which included women, children and the elderly. Dyer did not show any remorse for his action and said that the act was meant to punish Indians for disobedience.

According to Dyer, the troops had fired 1,650 rounds of ammunition. Apart from deaths caused by direct shooting, many people died in a stampede.

How Politicians Remembered Jallianwala Bagh Martyrs

"I recall the sacrifices of all those martyred on this day in Jallianwala Bagh. Their great sacrifice inspires us to work even harder to fulfil the dreams of our great freedom fighters  and build a strong and developed India", Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi tweeted. 

I recall the sacrifices of all those martyred on this day in Jallianwala Bagh. Their great sacrifice inspires us to work even harder to fulfil the dreams of our great freedom fighters and build a strong and developed India.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 13, 2023

The President of India, Droupadi Murmu tweeted, "My humble tribute on behalf of the countrymen to the martyrs of Jallianwala Bagh! Recently I had the opportunity to visit the holy place and pay homage to those heroes. The people of India will always be grateful to those freedom fighters who sacrificed their everything."

जलियांवाला बाग के बलिदानियों को देशवासियों की ओर से मेरी विनम्र श्रद्धांजलि! हाल ही में मुझे उस पवित्र स्थल का दर्शन करने और उन वीरों को श्रद्धा सुमन अर्पित करने का अवसर मिला था। अपना सर्वस्व न्योछावर करने वाले उन स्वाधीनता सेनानियों के प्रति भारतवासी सदैव कृतज्ञ रहेंगे। pic.twitter.com/eQxHKlSRSN

— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) April 13, 2023

"On this day in 1919, in the form of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, the whole world saw the cruel face of the British rule. This massacre hurt the countrymen in such a way that the freedom struggle turned into an individual movement. I salute the martyrs of Jallianwala Bagh", the Home Minister Amit Shah tweeted. 

आज ही के दिन 1919 में जलियांवाला बाग नरसंहार के रूप में पूरी दुनिया ने अंग्रेजी हुकूमत का निर्मम चेहरा देखा।

इस नरसंहार ने देशवासियों को ऐसी चोट पहुँचाई जिससे आजादी की लड़ाई व्यक्ति-व्यक्ति के आंदोलन में परिवर्तित हो गई।

जलियांवाला बाग में शहीद हुए बलिदानियों को नमन करता हूँ। pic.twitter.com/4MAtfRZHI4

— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) April 13, 2023

"We sincerely bow to all the martyrs of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, a bloody story of brutal torture by the British government...This apocalypse will always inspire our people to raise their voices in unison against oppression...", the Punjab Chief Minister Bhaghwant Mann tweet in Punjabi. 

ਅੰਗਰੇਜ਼ ਹਕੂਮਤ ਵੱਲੋਂ ਘੋਰ ਤਸ਼ੱਦਦ ਦੀ ਖੂਨੀ ਦਾਸਤਾਨ ਜਲ੍ਹਿਆਂਵਾਲਾ ਬਾਗ ਦੇ ਸਾਕੇ ਦੇ ਸਮੂਹ ਸ਼ਹੀਦਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਦਿਲੋਂ ਪ੍ਰਣਾਮ ਕਰਦੇ ਹਾਂ…

ਇਹ ਸਾਕਾ ਸਾਡੇ ਲੋਕਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਜ਼ੁਲਮ-ਜਬਰ ਦੇ ਖ਼ਿਲਾਫ਼ ਹਮੇਸ਼ਾ ਇੱਕ-ਜੁੱਟ ਹੋ ਕੇ ਆਵਾਜ਼ ਬੁਲੰਦ ਕਰਨ ਲਈ ਸਦਾ ਪ੍ਰੇਰਦਾ ਰਹੇਗਾ… pic.twitter.com/iNfz9bAgU6

— Bhagwant Mann (@BhagwantMann) April 13, 2023

"A humble tribute to the immortal sacrifice of all the brave martyrs of that massacre on Jallianwala Bagh Memorial Day. On Jallianwala Bagh Memorial Day, emotional tribute to the immortal sacrifice of all the martyrs of that massacre. 🙏", Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal tweeted. 

जलियाँवाला बाग स्मृति दिवस पर उस नरसंहार के सभी वीर शहीदों के अमर बलिदान को विनम्र श्रद्धांजलि।

ਜਲ੍ਹਿਆਂਵਾਲਾ ਬਾਗ਼ ਯਾਦਗਾਰੀ ਦਿਵਸ ਤੇ ਉਸ ਹੱਤਿਆਕਾਂਡ ਦੇ ਸਮੂਹ ਸ਼ਹੀਦਾਂ ਦੇ ਅਮਰ ਬਲਿਦਾਨ ਨੂੰ ਭਾਵਪੂਰਨ ਸ਼ਰਧਾਂਜਲੀ। 🙏

— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) April 13, 2023

"All the unarmed martyrs of Jallianwala Bagh have an indelible contribution in the freedom struggle. The patriotism, dedication, courage, sacrifice and selfless sacrifice of our brave martyrs will always be remembered. We salute the immortal sacrifices on behalf of the grateful nation", Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge tweeted in Hindi.

जलियंवाला बाग के सभी निःशस्त्र शहीदों का आज़ादी की लड़ाई में अमिट योगदान है।

हमारे वीर शहीदों की देशभक्ति, समर्पण, साहस, त्याग एवं निःस्वार्थ बलिदान को सदैव याद किया जाएगा।

अमर बलिदानियों को कृतज्ञ राष्ट्र की ओर से हम सादर नमन करते हैं। pic.twitter.com/SIJ7jgvMJW

— Mallikarjun Kharge (@kharge) April 13, 2023