'Martyrs insulted': Historians, politicians slam Modi govt over Jallianwala bagh renovation

Majority of the criticism has been directed at the hi-tech galleries that have replaced the stark, unadorned passage through which British General Dyer had led his men and ordered them to open fire on the thousands of men and women gathered for a peaceful protest.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the renovated Jallianwala Bagh complex on Saturday.

He had also inaugurated museum galleries at the Smarak. Four Museum galleries have been created through adaptive reuse of redundant and underutilised buildings.

The galleries showcase the historical value of events that unfolded in Punjab during that period, with the fusion of audio-visual technology, including projection mapping and 3D representation, as well as art and sculptural installations.

A sound and light show has been set up to display the events that happened on 13th April, 1919.

However, the changes did not go well among many who have accused the government of destroying history in the name of renovation.

Historian S Irfan Habib tweeted: "This is corporatisation of monuments, where they end up as modern structures, losing the heritage value. Look after them without meddling with the flavours of the period these memorials represent," tweeted

One of the hardest criticisms came from CPM's Sitaram Yechury, who said, "Only those who stayed away from the epic freedom struggle can scandalise thus".

"Insulting our martyrs. Jallianwala Bagh massacre of Hindus Muslims Sikhs who gathered together for Baisakhi galvanised our freedom struggle. Every brick here permeated the horror of British rule. Only those who stayed away from the epic freedom struggle can scandalise thus," he wrote.

The Congress too slammed the government citing the history of the right wing in India.

"Devastated to hear that Jallianwala Bagh, site of the Amritsar Massacre of 1919, has been revamped -- which means that the last traces of the event have effectively been erased. This is what I wrote of the memorial in my book, describing a space that has now itself become history," tweeted  historian Kim A. Wagner.

While inaugurating the renovated Jallianwala Bagh Smarak virtually, PM Modi had said: "It is the responsibility of every country to preserve its history. History teaches us lessons and shows the path to the future. We have seen horrors like Jallianwala Bagh also during partition."