25, January 2014
Attack on Sikh Golden Temple
The release of British government de-classified documents
under the ‘UK 30-year Freedom of Information Act’ reveal a disturbing British
collusion in the 1984 Indian military attack of the holiest of Sikh shrines –
the Golden Temple in Amritsar. First a little background. In common with many
other Indian states, Sikhs were anxious to maintain their religious and
language heritage and what they considered just demands after their enormous
contributions to the freedom movement. In August 1982, a relatively hitherto
unknown religious leader, Bhindranwale and the Akali Dal, the political arm of
the Sikhs, launched the Dharam Yudh Morcha (battle for righteousness), with its
stated aims being the fulfillment of a list of demands which became known as the
Anandpur Sahib Resolution. Thousands of people joined the movement in the hopes
of acquiring a larger share of irrigation water and the return of Chandigarh to
Punjab. After a number of skirmishes with the Punjab police Bhindranwale and
his supporters sought refuge in the Golden Temple in Amritsar. In the meantime,
the prime-minister, Indira Gandhi, was consolidating her power and was anxious
to weaken the power of the Sikhs. Gandhi interpreted the Sikh agitations as a direct
threat to the power of the Congress Party’s Central government. The newly
released UK documents reveal that Gandhi contacted the British prime minister,
Margaret Thatcher requesting military advice on launching an attack on the
Golden Temple to remove Bhindranwale and his supporters. A Special Air
Services, SAS British expert was dispatched to New Delhi under strict secrecy
anxious not to inflame the large population of Sikhs living in the UK. What is
particularly egregious is the decision to launch the attack to coincide with
the martyrdom day of Sikh's 5th Guru, Guru Arjan, when the complex would be full
of thousands of innocent pilgrims, trapped in the sweltering heat of summer. A
situation which could have been resolved without a shot being fired was allowed
to deteriorate to the point where the sacred sanctity of a place of worship was
desecrated in the most brutal way with death and destruction. In addition to
the death of Bhindranwale and his followers, thousands of innocent pilgrims who
had gathered to celebrate a religious festival also lost their lives in the
attack. The Akal Takht, the symbolic seat of supreme Sikh temporal authority
was reduced to rubble. Gurdwara Darbar Sahib was damaged with over 300 bullets.
The Sikh Reference Library with precious hand written manuscripts of the Gurus
was burned to the ground. The Temple treasury Toshakhana with priceless
historical artifacts of Maharaja Ranjit Singh was also burned. Why were the
British so eager to help Gandhi? The hitherto secret documents reveal that the
British government was anxious to consummate a highly lucrative helicopter
contract with the Indian military and decided to appease the Indian government
and were unconcerned with the ethical issues and loss of life which would
ensue. The Sikhs in the UK and many other parts of the world have become
incensed at the British involvement in one of worst tragedies in post-colonial
India. Lord Singh of the UK House of Lords has demanded an independent enquiry
into the collusion of the Thatcher government and has called for final closure
of the 1984 attack on the Golden Temple.
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