'British Govt. must apologise for Jallianwala Bagh massacre'

Amritsar (Punjab) [India], December 6 (ANI): London Mayor Sadiq Khan, who is currently on a visit to India, paid tributes to the martyrs of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre in Amritsar on Wednesday and said it is time for the British Government to apologise for the tragedy.

Khan wrote in the visitor's book at the Jallianwala Bagh that the British Government must apologise for the tragedy that took place at Jallianwala Bagh in 1919.

He wrote that it was incredibly moving for him to visit Jallianwala Bagh and one can never forgot the tragedy that took place here.

The mayor also visited the martyrs well at the historical site.

The Jallianwala Bagh massacre took place on 13 April, 1919 when troops of the British Indian Army under the command of Colonel Reginald Dyer fired machine guns into a crowd of unarmed protesters, along with Baishakhi pilgrims, who had gathered in Jallianwala Bagh, Amritsar, Punjab.

The British government released figures stating 379 dead and 1,200 wounded. Other sources place the number of dead at well over 1,000.

Before this, Khan paid obeisance at Golden Temple and also partook langar in the community kitchen of the temple.

Khan said he felt great after visiting the holy shrine.

He was also honoured by the officials of the Shiromani Gurudwara Parbandhak Committee.

Earlier on Tuesday, Khan visited the Akshardham Temple in New Delhi and also met students studying air pollution in Maharaja Agrasain Public School.

Khan along with Mayor of Bengaluru, Sampath Raj, yesterday announced that London and Bengaluru will lead a global partnership of up to 20 other world cities on tackling global air pollution.

The mayor held meetings with business leaders and Indian government ministers as a part of his visit to Mumbai, Delhi and Amritsar in India.

He also met Indian Finance Minister Arun Jaitlley and discussed how India and London can build on their longstanding business and cultural ties. (ANI)

This story has not been edited. It has been published as provided by ANI