The Jallianwala Bagh massacre will mark its 100th year in 2019. Tribune Photo

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, November 13

Rajya Sabha MP Shwait Malik has demanded a special package from Union Cultural Minister Dr Mahesh Sharma for the development of Jallianwala Bagh on the completion of 100 years of the massacre.After meeting Dr Sharma in New Delhi recently, Malik said the minister had assured him of all help while asserting that Jallianwala Bagh is a national monument and the Centre is committed to its development.Malik told the minister that in April 2019, the Jallianwala Bagh massacre would mark its 100th year and to pay a befitting homage to the martyrs, the Union Government should grant a special package for the development of the historical monument so that visitors should know how the people of the country had fought and laid down their lives during the Independence struggle.Malik said he had sanctioned Rs 10 lakh from his discretionary grant for the monument’s development. He added that the work of painting Jallianwala Bagh was in progress.The MP said new sanitary fittings and renovation work of washrooms, a water cooler with an RO system, installation of ceiling fans in the visitor gallery, repairs of fountains and lighting were going on.He added that the main emphasis was to restart the documentary on the massacre.