Amarinder rules out legislation on colonial history

Chandigarh April 1 (IANS) Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Saturday ruled out a Spain-like Historical Memory Law to erase all remnants of the cruel and humiliating British colonial rule in the state.

The Chief Minister made this clear in response to questions from media persons at Mohali town 10 km from here regarding a proposal of state Finance Minister Manpreet Badal to bring in such a legislation to formally condemn British rule and destroy its remains in Punjab.

Amarinder said that being a historian himself he did not believe in wiping out history but in learning from it.

By changing the name of Akbar Road one cannot wipe out the existence of Emperor Akbar he said making it clear that he was not in favour of the kind of legislation that Manpreet Badal had propounded.

He added that these could be Manpreet s personal opinions but he would look into any such legislation as and when it is formally brought to his notice.

History can neither be changed nor rewritten. It is a part of India s past from which we have already learnt our lessons and moved forward. I am personally not in favour of tampering with history be it good or bad Amarinder said.

--IANS
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