Centre will hold events to commemorate Jallianwala Bagh tragedy: Malik

The Centre will organise events in several parts of the country to commemorate the Jallianwala Bagh tragedy, Punjab BJP chief Shwait Malik said today.

Malik, a Rajya Sabha MP, also said that he had provided a grant of Rs 10 lakh from his MPLAD fund for amenities at the historic monument.

Malik said the Jallianwala Bagh here received lakhs of visitors every year but there was a huge problem regarding basic amenities.

With the grant of grant Rs 10 lakh from his MPLAD fund, Jallianwala Bagh has got new toilets, new fans in the visitors' gallery, the defunct lights and fountains have been repaired and walls have been painted, he said in a statement.

Malik, who today inaugurated the new installations, claimed he was shocked to see the dilapidated condition of the monument last year.

"On March 21, 2017 I raised the matter in the Rajya Sabha and met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Finance minister Arun Jaitley and briefed them about the situation. Subsequently, Union Minister Mahesh Sharma specially visited Jallianwala Bagh on May 8, 2017 and announced a special package for its maintenance and development," he said.