British memorial plaque invites Meerut residents fury

A church in Meerut, the nerve centre of the 1857 uprising against British rule by Indian soldiers, has rejected a plaque presented to it by a group of visiting Britons to commemorate the valour shown by British soldiers.

By Vijay Pratap Singh Meerat, Sep 22 : A church in Meerut, the nerve centre of the 1857 uprising against British rule by Indian soldiers, has rejected a plaque presented to it by a group of visiting Britons to commemorate the valour shown by British soldiers.

Britons, including seven successors of the British soldiers who suppressed the rebellion, visited St. John's Church.

This church is adjacent to the former British parade ground.

The church refused to accept the plaque saying it would hurt the sentiments of Indians.

"This is the mutiny year. We are celebrating 150 years of the First War of Independence. These people from Britain came to see the old church. They wanted to acquaint themselves with the memories of their friends, family members and fellow countrymen," said Father Peter Baldev, the priest of St John's Church.

"As far as the commemorative inscription and the plaque are concerned, I am not clear as to where they want to lay it .The British request has angered locals. They condemned the visitors and even burnt their effigies," Father Baldev added.

Shyam Nandan Singh, a Uttar Pradesh State Assembly legislature, said that protests could aggregate if the plaque was laid.

ANI