Published 17:14 IST, April 11th 2019
FOR REAL: Now, Imran Khan's minister stakes Pakistan's claim to Kohinoor Diamond
Imran Khan's Minister Fawad Choudhry in a tweet has expressed his dismay with the British empire over the 'Jallianwala Bagh massacre and the Bengal famine' during the colonial era.
Imran Khan's Minister Fawad Choudhry in a tweet has expressed his dismay with the British empire over the 'Jallianwala Bagh massacre and the Bengal famine' during the colonial era and asked the government to apologise India, Pakistan and Bangladesh, as well as asked for the Koh-i-noor back.
On Wednesday, ahead of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre 100th anniversary on April 13, British Prime Minister Theresa May expressed her 'regret' over the killing.
"We deeply regret what happened and the suffering caused," May said. She further described the incident as a 'shameful scar' on British Indian history. Reiterating May's words, Choudhry cited how 'these tragedies are the scar on the face of Britain'
In a tweet, while censuring the massacre, the Pakistani Minister has also asked for the return of the Koh-i-Noor diamond to the Lahore museum 'where it belongs'
The UK government on Tuesday flagged financial implications as one of the factors it had to consider while reflecting upon demands for a formal apology for the Jallianwala Bagh massacre to mark its centenary this week.
UK Foreign Office minister Mark Field told a debate on Jallianwala Bagh massacre at Westminster Hall in the House of Commons complex that while it was important to draw a line under the past over the shameful episode in history, repeatedly issuing apologies for events related to the British Raj came with their own problems.
However, while reiterating the UK government's deepest regret over the massacre in Amritsar on April 13, 1919, Field stressed that the issue of appropriately marking the somber 100th anniversary remains a work in progress and an active debate was taking place amongst ministers and senior officials.
Importantly, our modern relationship with India is focussed on the future, on pooling our strengths However, I also recognise that the relationship is framed in part by the past, Field said, adding that he had been compelled by the latest debate to take a message back to Downing Street that perhaps a little more is required than the deep regret already expressed by the UK government.
(With PTI inputs)
Updated 17:37 IST, April 11th 2019