A panel of celebrated sikh veterans, socialites and scholars proudly released the third edition of a book titled blue star over amritsar the real story of june 1984, written by a woman sikh. Golden temple of sikhs, also known as sri harmandir sahib, gurdwara darbar sahib, siri harimandir sahib, sri darbar sahib is most famous holy shrine of sikhs. Why 1984 golden temple raid still rankles for sikhs bbc. Alleged british role in 1984 amritsar assault shocks many. See the article in its original context from june 4, 1984, section a, page 6 buy. In 1984 the indian government attacked the holiest shrine of the sikhs in amritsar, commonly known as the golden temple harmander sahib on the pretext of flushing out terrorists. It was 6th june 1984 and most of the youth that were involved in the rescue of bhindranwale were killed at golden temple by the indian army in amritsar. Gandhi risks her future in an attack on sikh extremists. After that, the army intensified the attack and imposed restrictions on civilians entry. Being the gateway for travellers coming to india on the overland.
British role in 1984 amritsar attack sikh groups have called for a government inquiry into alleged british collusion in the bloody 1984 indian military attack on the golden temple in amritsar, the faiths holiest shrine, after newly released documents appeared to show the sas was involved in planning the attack. The spiritual focus is the tank, the amrit sarovar, which surrounds the glistening central shrine. Operation blue star was carried out between june 1 and june 8, 1984, in amritsar. She was concerned that they might have been attacked by angry sikhs. Nsyf 2nd june 1984 day 2 of the indian armys attack. David cameron launches inquiry into sas involvement in 1984 golden temple killings. Jun, 20 operation blue star 1984 golden temple attack sikhs. Footage showed dozens of sikhs fighting with swords at the golden temple. The golden temple became a place for weapons training for the militants.
Indian troops attacked the temple, sikhisms holiest place of worship, in june 1984 killing 492 militants, pilgrims and soldiers rex features the document makes clear the british government is. Facts of the 1984 indian army attack on harmandir sahib. What happened on june 6, 1984 at golden temple in amritsar. The decision to launch the attack rested with prime minister indira gandhi. Gandhis last battle and over 2 million other books are available.
Why 1984 golden temple raid still rankles for sikhs. Indias guilty secret must be read by those who wish to fully. According to official figures, 300 to 400 people died in this operation while 90 soldiers were killed. Shabeg singhs military expertise is credited with the creation of effective defences of the temple complex that made the possibility of a commando operation on foot impossible. Book by book, sikh reference library struggles to restore glory. It is the holiest gurdwara and the most important pilgrimage site of sikhism.
Operation blue star was the codename for the attack on the akal takhat and the golden temple complex during the period june 1 to 6, 1984. On this day in 1984, sikh separatist militants at the shrine of. Operation blue star was the codename of an indian military action carried out between 1 and 8 june 1984 to remove militant religious leader jarnail singh bhindranwale and his followers from the buildings of the harmandir sahib golden temple complex in amritsar. How an indian army raid on the golden temple ended in disaster thirty years ago this week, in june 1984, a tense standoff. Sipa pressrex six months later, indira gandhi, the indian prime minister who had ordered the attack, was assassinated in her own. Born november 19, 1917, indira gandhi the infamous third prime minister of india was a woman with a lifelong career of controversial politics. Devotees walk inside the complex of the holy sikh shrine, the golden temple, in the northern indian city of amritsar january 14, 2014. She ordered the june 1984 operation blue star invasion of the darbar harmandir sahib in amritsar, india, popularly known as the golden temple. Indira gandhi 1984 operation bluestar golden temple attack. It came after she had ordered a military attack on the golden temple complex, the holiest shrine of the sikhs in amritsar, in june of that year. Uk military advice was given to india before the 1984 golden temple attack but it had limited impact, the foreign secretary says.
The operation was launched to remove sikh separatists who had sought cover in the golden temple of amritsar. Thirty years ago this week, in june 1984, a tense standoff erupted into. The armys attack was resisted with heavy firepower, and weapons captured included machine guns, antitank missiles and rocket launchers. Operation bluestar of 1984, a governmentsanctioned military operation that resulted in countless casualties and the destruction of one of the most historically significant gurduaras, the darbar sahib of amritsar i. The army also attacked sikh guerrillas besieged in three dozen other temples. Sukhmandir kaur is a sikh author, educator, and the president of dharam khand sikh academy.
Days before the 1984 sikh massacre 1 of 7 golden temple harmander sahib amritsar duration. Given the enormous loss of life, there is overwhelming public interest in ensuring the government conducts the most transparent investigation. Members of the sikh uk council petition downing street in response to recent allegations the uk colluded with india in the attack on the golden temple at amritsar in june 1984. The 1984 operation bluestar invasion of golden temple. The attack on lt gen kuldeep singh brar, 78, in september last year brought one of the most controversial events in recent indian history back into the headlines. Excellent realtime narrative of operation blue star as golden temple by mrs indira. A quick entry and surprise attack was the best way to deal with the men inside. The true story was ordered by the prime minister of india indira gandhi on 3rd june 1984. Like a shroud, the heat of june began to settle over the golden temple of amritsar. Sgpc has preserved 147 bullet marks in the walls of its hq as evidence in a rs 1,000 crore suit related to. Operation blue star is an indian army raid on the golden temple that ended up in disaster. Indian army troops fight their way into the besieged golden temple compound in amritsar the holiest shrine of sikhismand kill at least 500 sikh rebels. They organised the armed militants present at the harmandir sahib in amritsar in june 1984.
Uk advised india on 1984 golden temple attack, william hague. Prime minister david cameron has ordered an investigation into official papers which suggest the british government of margaret thatcher helped india plan an attack against sikh separatists in the golden temple at amritsar in 1984. In his book describing the battle, majorgeneral kuldip singh brar, the. Amritsar city is located in the punjab state of india. Sikhs demand inquiry into claims of british role in 1984. Pakistani sikh community are chanting slogans against operation blue star held at golden temple amritsar in 1984, on the occasion of its 30th anniversary during a protest demonstration held at lahore.
Sikhs demand inquiry into claims of british role in 1984 amritsar attack. Golden temple sikhs surrender from the guardian the guardian. This book is a true account of the entire operation and coming from the. The 1984 attack on the golden temple at amritsar david alton. An employee sorting books at sikh reference library at golden temple in amritsar on tuesday. The twoway the acknowledgment comes just weeks after it was revealed that britain may have had a role in the raid on the golden. Swordwielding sikhs clash at indias golden temple during. Admits limited role in indias 1984 raid on golden temple. Brar about the army operation of the same name, ordered by the then prime minister indira gandhi, that took place to flush out jarnail singh bhindrawale at the golden temple in amritsar.
Amritsar 1984 download ebook pdf, epub, tuebl, mobi. It is an important seat of sikh history and culture. The sikh community is calling for a full independent enquiry. At the time of the operation, close to 100,000 army troops had been deployed throughout punjab. Operation blue star was the codename of an indian military action carried out between 1 and 8 june 1984 to remove militant religious leader jarnail singh bhindranwale and his followers from the buildings of the harmandir sahib golden temple complex in amritsar, punjab. Britain backstabbed sikhs by advising india on 1984. Swordwielding sikhs clash at indias golden temple during prayers to mark the deadly 1984 military assault at amritsar. On this night in 1984, the golden temple in amritsar was stormed by indian. During the first week of june, sikhs around the world commemorate a recent historical event. Temple quotes sikh quotes gurbani quotes guru nanak. Operation blue star 1984 golden temple attack sikhs.
Petition to demand public inquiry into british role in 1984 amritsar attack. Operation blue star was a military operation to remove sikh separatists who were accumulating weapons in the golden temple in amritsar in 1984. My lords, my noble friend lord singh has asked me to express his regrets to the minister and to the house that he cannot be in his place, given that he has followed this issue with assiduousness and determination over a very long period, but he is. Unfold interview on operation bluestar 1984 golden temple. The elegant marble floored courtyard of the gilded golden temple in amritsar was strewn with bodies and blood. Indian police at the golden temple in amritsar in 1984 photo. Ever since the june 1984 indian army, attack on harmandir sahib, golden temple the indian media along with indian government, has been shouting, at the top of their voice, that the attack was a sudden one, that was planned only 4 5 days before the 3rd of june, 1984. The indian army invaded the harmandir sahib complex on the orders of the then prime minister of india, indira gandhi.
Alleged british role in 1984 amritsar assault shocks many in india. Britain backstabbed sikhs by advising india on 1984 golden temple raid britain betrayed us by advising indira gandhi on her fatal raid against militants barricaded in amritsar s golden temple. They were amassing heavy machine guns and other weapons in this temple. Remembering the massacre of sikhs in june of 1984 huffpost. Troops raid golden temple in amritsar nearly 300 people have been killed as indian troops stormed the golden temple in amritsar, held by sikh militants. Located in the beautiful city of amritsar, golden temple is just a small part of the vast complex known as harmandir sahib or darbar sahib to the sikhs. On 34th anniversary of operation blue star that shook the indira gandhi regime, we look back at what happened on june 6, 1984 at golden temple in amritsar operation blue star. Why 1984 golden temple raid still rankles for sikhs bbc news. Please read the sidebar before posting and commenting. Four sikhs have been convicted in london of attacking a retired general who led the indian armys assault in 1984 on the golden temple in amritsar.