Cameron should apologise for Jallianwala Bagh massacre: WPO

New Delhi: As the nation paid homage to victims of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, the World Punjabi Organisation (WPO) today urged British Prime Minister David Cameron to tender an apology for the incident that left thousands of Indians dead.

The demand came in the wake of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announcing that he apologise on May 18 in the House of Commons for Canada's refusal to allow entry to Komagata Maru, a ship carrying 376 immigrants, mostly Sikhs, from India in 1914 due to "discriminatory laws of the time".

On Sunday, April 13, 1919, British Indian Army soldiers, commanded by Brigadier-General Reginald Dyer, opened fire at an unarmed gathering of men, women, and children without warning at Jallianwala Bagh in Amritsar on Baisakhi day.

"David Cameron should make formal apology for the Jallianwala Bagh massacre by General Dyer," International President of World Punjabi Organisation (WPO) Vikramjit Sahney said while welcoming the announcement made by the Canadian Prime Minister.

At the WPO Baisakhi celebrations here, Sahney announced that the World Punjabi Parliamentarian Forum will be meeting towards end of this year and discuss opportunities ranging from education, youth, health and human rights for Punjabis in their respective countries for an all-inclusive growth.

Sahney highlighted the meaningful contributions of Punjabis towards the society, which he said stands for peaceful co-existence, prosperity and strength.