Former Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha), Tarlochan Singh has written to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, requesting her to declare “Komagata Maru” Martyrs’ Day on September 29, to commemorate those Sikhs who were shot dead, after they disembarked the ship at Budge Budge Ghat, Kolkata, during 1914.
According to Singh, as the ship Komagata Maru also known as ‘Guru Nanak Jahaz,’ had travelled to Canada, from Kolkata, but had to return after the passengers were denied entry to the nation, and when they reached Budge Budge Ghat, Kolkata, and were carrying the Guru Granth Sahib from the vessel to the Gurdwara, the Imperial Police allegedly clashed with them, which resulted in some of them having a narrow escape, while several took bullets when they were fired upon.
In his letter to the West Bengal CM, Singh has mentioned, “You are well aware about the historic Saga of Komagata Maru Ship, when the passengers were martyred at Budge-Budge Ghat, Kolkata on 29th September 1914. This ship known as Guru Nanak Jahaz was not allowed to enter Canada and after long waiting in Vancouver was sent back to India.”
He has also urged the CM that the ‘Komagata Maru Martyrs Day’ on September 29, should be organized by the state government and the Municipal Corporation, at the Budge Budge, Kolkata on an annual basis.
Singh, also the former Chairman of the National Commission for Minorities, has expressed that it is astonishing to see Canadian government is involved in building museums, and announcing ‘Remembering Day’ of the sad incident, however, the place where the passengers were actually shot, the day, is yet to be officially remembered by the state government.
Singh stated that West Bengal CM has always highlighted the role of the state’s ‘Freedom Fighters,’ whose sacrifices have been written in golden letters.
He also mentioned about the two official documents attached with his letter, one from Vancouver and another from Surrey, where both city Councils have declared Guru Nanak Jahaz Remembrance Day to show regrets for not allowing passengers to enter Canada.
He claimed that earlier in 2016, the then Canadian Prime Minister had apologized for the incident in their Parliament.
According to Singh, the story goes back to 1914, when the Japanese ship carried over 300 passengers, primarily Sikhs, led by Gurdit Singh to Canada, but they had not been allowed to disembark from the ship, which had to wait for over a month in to the Sea, and had to return.