Barefoot David Cameron shows respect but no apology for the ‘monstrous’ Amritsar massacre

 
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Head bowed, David Cameron laid a wreath today at the site of one of the worst atrocities of Britain’s imperialist past.

Standing where hundreds of unarmed people were killed by British troops in 1919, the Prime Minister invoked the words of Winston Churchill, who de-scribed the Amritsar massacre as “monstrous”.

But although Mr Cameron went further than any previous British leader by calling the event “deeply shameful”, he did not apologise.

Amid criticism from descendants of some of those who died, Mr Cameron later defended the lack of an apology, saying it would be wrong to “reach back into history” and say sorry for the wrongs of British colonialism.

Today’s ceremony in the Sikh holy city in Punjab was the first time a serving British premier has paid respects to the dead at Amritsar. Earlier, a barefooted Mr Cameron, wearing a blue head covering, was shown around the Golden Temple, the holiest site in the Sikh faith. He tried his hand at flipping chapatis in kitchens that feed thousands of pilgrims every day.

On April 13, 1919, soldiers led by Brigadier-General Reginald Dyer fired into a peaceful protest by thousands of Sikhs against harsh colonial laws. They shot without warning and kept firing until their ammunition ran out.

The British admitted 379 people died in the public gardens of Jallianwala Bagh, though Indian historians estimate the death toll at over a thousand, with many more injured. Women, children and elderly people were among the victims. In 1997, the Queen laid a wreath and described the massacre as “distressing”. Mr Cameron’s words today were far stronger. He wrote in the book of condolence: “This was a deeply shameful event in British history, one that Winston Churchill rightly described at the time as ‘monstrous’.

“We must never forget what happened here, and in remembering we must ensure that the United Kingdom stands up for the right of peaceful protest around the world.” He was shown around the site by descendants of survivors, who pointed out bullet holes in the walls and an eternal flame.

Sunil Kapoor, whose great-grand-father died, said: “If you feel shameful then why not make an apology?”

Asked later why he decided not to apologise, Mr Cameron said: “In my view, we are dealing with something here that happened a good 40 years before I was born, and we are dealing with something that ... the British Government rightly condemned at the time.

“I don’t think the right thing is to reach back into history and to seek out things that we should apologise for. I think the right thing to do is to acknowledge what happened, to recall what happened, to show respect and understanding.”

Mr Kapoor, head of the Jallianwala Bagh Freedom Fighters Foundation, said: “For 94 years we are waiting for justice.” But Sukumar Mukherjee, secretary of the memorial site and the grandson of a massacre survivor: “He has come here, he has paid his tribute. It is more than an apology.”

Mr Cameron said the Golden Temple had been “fascinating and illuminating ... very moving, very serene, very spiritual”.

He is keen to attract the votes of an estimated 700,000 Sikhs in Britain, many of whom he believes share Conservative values on faith, family and hard work. “What they contribute to our country is outstanding,” he said.

Today’s ceremony ended a three-day trip to India which has highlighted the growing confidence and strength of the former colony, now destined to become one of the world’s economic powerhouses.

David Cameron: ‘we must never forget what happened here’

David Cameron wrote in the visitor book:

“This was a deeply shameful event in British history – one that Winston Churchill described as ‘monstrous’.

“We must never forget what happened here. And in remembering we must ensure that the United Kingdom stands up for the right of peaceful protest around the world.”

David Cameron, Feb 2013

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