Consideration for Examination of U.K.'s Involvement in 1984 Golden Temple Tragedy
A Peek into the UK's Potential Probe on the 1984 Golden Temple Attack
The UK is reportedly mulling over an investigation into the British military's role in the 1984 Golden Temple massacre, as shared with our platform.
In 2014, top-secret documents surfaced, revealing that the Margaret Thatcher administration dispatched a SAS officer to collaborate with the Indian administration during the attack which left hundreds of civilians dead.
Since then, the Sikh community has persistently advocated for complete transparency surrounding the matter, given the numerous classified files that still remain under wraps.
Labour's most prominent Sikh MP, Tan Dhesi, disclosed that he has interacted with top officials from Number 10, who suggested that an inquiry is under evaluation. Dhesi, also the Labour chair of the Defence Committee, implored the government to deliver on the Sikh community's quest for truth and transparency.
Operation Blue Star, which took place in June 1984, witnessed Indian forces breaching the Golden Temple, the most sacred Sikh shrine in Amritsar, where separatists who aimed to create an independent Sikh homeland had sought refuge.
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Thousands congregated in Central London last Sunday, pressing Labour to fulfill their commitment to conduct an independent public inquiry into any British engagement in the Golden Temple massacre.
During their election campaigns in 2017 and 2019, Labour voiced promises to initiate an independent inquiry [2][3]. Additionally, Sir Keir Starmer, as Leader of the Opposition, penned a letter in 2022, pledging that a future Labour government would launch an independent investigation into Britain's military role in the 1984 raid on the Golden Temple in Amritsar [2]. Moreover, Angela Rayner, the current Deputy Prime Minister, echoed this promise prior to the last general election [2].
As of now, more than 11 months into Labour's term, there hasn't been any official government update on this issue. Our platform contacted the Foreign Office for comment, who directed us to an exchange between Mr Dhesi and the Leader of the House, Lucy Powell, from January 2025. Powell expressed acknowledgment of the matter's importance to the Sikh community in the UK and promised that the responsible ministers would connect with Mr Dhesi to discuss the issue further [3].
Earlier this year, over 400 Sikh groups penned a letter to the prime minister, urging him to launch an inquiry as promised [4]. Addressing Sunday's London rally, Dabinderjit Singh OBE, the lead executive for political engagement at the Sikh Federation (UK), emphasized that Labour must fulfill this pledge to maintain community trust and avoid betrayal, potentially losing significant Sikh support [4].
The Conservative-led government under Prime Minister David Cameron had conducted an internal review in 2014 that concluded the UK's role was "purely advisory" and "limiting," with a single military advisor offering early-stage planning assistance to the Indian authorities [1]. However, this review was criticized for its limited scope and swift completion, lending credence to accusations of a cover-up. The Indian government maintains that Operation Blue Star was a military operation directed against armed militants, rather than the Sikh community [1]. Despite multiple Labour leadership pledges for an inquiry, our platform understands that the government is now contemplating the potential diplomatic ramifications of such an inquiry, especially given the close ties between India and the UK.
The UK's political landscape has witnessed growing demands from the Sikh community for an investigation into the British military's role in the 1984 Golden Temple massacre, which has been a long-standing subject of controversy and community advocacy. Amidst discussions on policy and legislation, the potential probe on the golden temple attack has become intertwined with general news and current politics, as Labour's promises to launch an independent inquiry have yet to be fulfilled.
