File photo of Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn. Reuters

New Delhi, November 22

Britain’s main Opposition Labour Party has launched its election manifesto that promises an audit into the colonial past, including an apology to India for the Jallianwala Bagh massacre in Amritsar a century back. The manifesto also assured a public review of Britain’s role in Operation Bluestar that has been mentioned as the “Amritsar massacre”.

The promise to apologise is a step up from the deep regret expressed by then British Prime Minister Theresa May this year that was meant to coincide with the Jallianwala Bagh massacre’s 100th anniversary.

Under the sub-head “Effective Diplomacy”, the relevant part of the Labour manifesto reads: “We will issue a formal apology for the Jallianwala Bagh massacre and hold a public review into Britain’s role in the Amritsar massacre.”

The manifesto further promises to set up a judicial probe into Britain’s “injustices of the past” that includes a public review of the country’s role in Operation Bluestar.

The party did not make a separate reference to Kashmir which had not gone down well with some Indian diaspora groups when the party passed an emergency motion at its September conference, hinting at international intervention in the region. This time, Kashmir has been clubbed with hotspots such as Yemen and Myanmar where a prospective Labour government will attempt conflict prevention and build peace. — TNS