Jallianwalla Bagh Memorial Amendment Bill 2019

Table of Contents

Jallianwala Bagh Memorial

It is a historic place that houses a museum, gallery, garden and a number of memorial structures in Amritsar.
It has been preserved in the memory of those wounded and killed in the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre that occurred on the site on 13 April 1919.
Status of – ‘Memorial of national importance’

Q. Name of leaders whose arrest led to people’s gathering in Jallianwala bagh on 13 April 1919?

The Jallianwala Bagh National Memorial (Amendment) Bill, 2019

Introduced in Lok Sabha by Prahlad Singh Patel,
MoS for Culture – Jul 08, 2019
Passed in Lok Sabha – Aug 02, 2019
Passed in Rajya Sabha – Nov 19, 2019

What did this Bill propose?

It amends the Jallianwala Bagh National Memorial Act, 1951.
The 1951 Act provided for the erection of a National Memorial in memory of those killed or wounded on April 13, 1919, in Jallianwala Bagh, Amritsar.
The Act also created a Trust to manage the affairs of the National Memorial

Composition of Trustees acc. to 1951 Act

(i) Prime Minister as Chairperson,
(ii) President of the Indian National Congress,
(iii) Minister in-charge of Culture,
(iv) Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha,
(v) Governor of Punjab,
(vi) Chief Minister of Punjab,
(vii) 3 eminent persons nominated by the central government (Term – 5 years, eligible for re-nomination.)

The Changes

The Bill amends this provision to remove the President of the Indian National Congress as a Trustee.
When there is no Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, then the leader of the single largest opposition party will be the Trustee.
Central government can terminate the term of the 3 nominated trustee before the expiry of their term without assigning any reason.

Amendments moved by members of opposition parties were also defeated by division of votes.
The Bill was passed by a voice vote amid a walkout by the Congress party.
‘’We should accept the truth that such organizations or trusts should not be politicized and should instead be nationalized”

Issues with the amendments

Petty politics?
Trivial issue
DMK member – waste of time
Necessary to build Jallianwala Bagh National Memorial as National Memorial in true sense.
Role of Congress party in Freedom movement being sidelined.