Rajya Sabha passes Jallianwala Memorial Trust Bill

News: Jallianwala Bagh National Memorial (Amendment) Bill, 2019 has been passed by the Parliament after it was passed in Rajya Sabha. The Bill was earlier passed in the Lok Sabha in August 2019.

Facts:

About Jallianwala Bagh National Memorial (Amendment) Bill, 2019

• It amends the Jallianwala Bagh National Memorial Act, 1951.
• The Bill removes the clause pertaining to the President of the Indian National Congress (INC) as a permanent member of the trust.
• The Bill also amends to include Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha or the leader of the single largest Opposition party in case there is no Leader of Opposition as a member of the trust.
•  It also amends that a nominated trustee may be terminated before the expiry of the period of five years by the Central Government.

Additional Information:

Jallianwala Bagh National Memorial Act, 1951:

• Trust was first set up by then Congress president Motilal Nehru in 1920 after the Jallianwala Bagh massacre (13th April, 1919).
•  After independence, the government brought in the Act which provided for the erection of a National Memorial in memory of those killed or wounded in the Jallianwala Bagh massacre.
• The Act made then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, Dr. Saifuddin Kitchlew and Maulana Abul Kalam Azad as life-long members of the trust.
• The other trustees were the Congress president, and the Punjab Chief Minister and Governor, and three members to be nominated by the government.
• Currently, the trust comprises the Prime Minister, the Congress president, Culture Minister, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Punjab Governor, and Punjab CM as its members.