EALING Southall MP, Virendra Sharma, has hosted a public meeting to discuss the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre and its impact on Indo-British citizens.

The meeting was held last week in association with the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre 1919 Centenary Committee and it was attended by MPs, Peers, campaigners and academics.

An expert panel of speakers discussed the continued impact of the massacre, as the event still reverberates with many people today.

During the meeting the Labour MP said: "Despite occurring more than a century ago, I believe the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre still holds an important place in the psyche of the Indian, Pakistani

and Bangladeshi people.

"For me it represents the point at which any promise of a tolerant, liberal and progressive British India was erased.

"To me it is a trigger, the launching of the final phase of independence.

"But still today it poisons the image of Britain for millions."

Dr Shalini Sharma from the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre 1919 Centenary Committee said: "An apology would recognise that the history of the massacre and its role in de-legitimising empire on a global scale is our shared history.

"A mistake from which we can all learn.

"A history that should be in our national curriculum, in citizenship tests and part of the British national consciousness as a warning and a deterrent.

"An apology will not bring back the lives of hundreds of people mowed down on that fateful day, but it will give them justice and it will create the basis for a better future for our children."

Tweeting after the event Gawain Little from the NEU said: "Yesterday, I gave the full support of NEU to the Jallianwala Bagh Centenary Committee in their demand for an apology and for Britain's colonial history to be taught in our schools.

"Thank you Virendra Sharma for the opportunity to contribute today.

"Nothing changes without education.

"Nothing changes without action.

"We will stand with you in both."

Sharma later thanked the speakers and the attendees for their contributions and promised to continue campaigning to the British Government to offer a formal and full apology for the actions of General Dyer in 1919.

The Ealing Southall MP will continue in his efforts to work with local schools on teaching of the history of the empire.