London, UK (January 13, 2014): Following publication on the internet of documents marked ‘TOP SECRET AND PERSONAL’ apparently released under the ’30-year rule’, the Sikh Council UK today called for an urgent enquiry into actions and involvement of the UK Government at the time of the Indian Army attack on Sri Harmandir Sahib, Amritsar (also known as the Golden Temple) in 1984.
The Top Secret documents released earlier this month by the UK Government show the Indian authorities “sought British advice over a plan to remove Sikh extremists from the Golden Temple in Amritsar”. The documents go on to explain the UK Foreign Minister with the agreement of the UK Prime Minister decided to respond favourably to the Indian request as a result of which an SAS officer (UK special forces) “has visited India and drawn up a plan which has been approved by Mrs Gandhi”.
UK’s secret document recently released
Secretary General of the Sikh Council UK, Gurmel Singh said, “I am shocked and disappointed that there could have been any involvement by the UK Government and armed forces in planning the attack on the Golden Temple Complex including Sri Harmandir Sahib and Sri Akal Takhat Sahib.”
“Thousands of innocent men, women and children were killed in the attack which took place on one of the holiest days in the Sikh calendar. As well as loss of life, buildings and property was destroyed and the historical Sikh reference library was ransacked. This is and remains one of the darkest episodes in Sikh history.”
He added, “I am calling for an urgent enquiry into UK Government involvement in the events of 1984 including a full disclosure of all documentation. The letters date from February 1984 yet the attack took place in June 1984 and then there was the subsequent genocide of Sikhs following Indira Gandhi assassination in October 1984. I want to know what else were the UK Government saying and doing over all that time?”
Chair of Indian Affairs Sub-Committee of Sikh Council UK, Gurdial Singh Atwal said, “The Sikh community is this year commemorating the 30th anniversary of the events of 1984. We are also proudly commemorating the 100th anniversary of Sikh involvement and sacrifices in World War I. As proud and loyal British Sikhs it is a matter of great offense and distress that a UK Government could have been involved in planning an attack on our beloved Sri Harmandir Sahib. This involvement has been hidden for too long and as British Sikhs we now demand to know the whole truth.”
The Sikh Council UK is writing to First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Rt Hon William Hague MP requesting an urgent inquiry including full disclosure of all documents and facts in relation to UK Government actions and involvement in the 1984 attack by the Indian Army on the Golden Temple Complex including Sri Harmandir Sahib and Sri Akal Takhat Sahib, Amritsar and subsequent events
Also Read: