New Delhi: The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) Wednesday supported the Jallianwala Bagh National Memorial (Amendment) Bill, 2018, passed by the Lok Sabha, with certain objections to some of the provisions of the bill.
Speaking on behalf of the party on the bill in the Lok Sabha, BJD Parliamentary party leader Bhartruhari Mahtab recalled the painful events of the massacre at Jallianwala Bagh and also narrated his kids’ impressions during a visit to Jallianwala Bagh.
Mahtab also said that the museum there has been shabbily maintained.
“The photographs are not displayed in an organised manner. It is not maintained properly after construction,” Mahtab said.
He further said that there is nothing to debate in this bill except one clause.
“You are giving power to the government to remove the trustees without assigning any valid reason. Why bring such a provision now? When the Prime Minister is heading the trust, why are you giving power to the bureaucracy or government to remove the trustees,” Mahtab asked.
Notably, the bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha by the Minister of State for Culture Mahesh Sharma December 28, 2018. It amends the Jallianwala Bagh National Memorial Act, 1951.
The 1951 act provides for the erection of National Memorial in memory of those killed April 13, 1919, in Jallianwala Bagh, Amritsar. In addition, it creates a Trust to manage the National Memorial.
The Bill amended the provision to remove the president of Indian National Congress as trustee and clarifies that in the absence of Leader of Opposition, the leader single largest opposition party in the Lok Sabha would be the trustee of the Memorial. The bill also added a provision to allow the Union government to terminate the term of a nominated trustee before the expiry of his term without assigning any reason.
Significantly, the trustees of the memorial will be the Prime Minister, as chairperson, Culture Minister, the Governor of Punjab, Chief Minister of Punjab, Leader of the Opposition or leader of the single largest opposition party and three eminent persons nominated by the government.