Tag Archives: Indira Gandhi

Ace Worldwide News Group 17:49 on 06/06/2014
Tags: , , Amritsar, Golden Temple, Harmandir Sahib, , Indian Army, Indira Gandhi, ,   

‘ Clashes Break-Out Between Sword-Wielding Sikhs’

#AceWorldNews – INDIA (Amritsar) – June 06 – Clashes broke out between sword-wielding Sikhs on Friday at the Golden Temple, Amritsar, in northern India on the 30th anniversary of an army raid in which hundreds of people were killed.

At least two people were wounded in the violence at the temple in the city of Amritsar, AFP reported. The temple is the holiest shrine in the Sikh religion.

Hundreds gathered at the shrine to pay their respects to those killed in the June 6, 1984, raid of the temple by Indian troops aimed at flushing out armed separatists demanding an independent Sikh homeland.

(BBC) – Reports said the fight at Sikhism’s holiest shrine was over who would speak first at the ceremony and that a scuffle broke out over a microphone.

Footage showed men running down temple steps lashing out with their swords.

Reports said at least three people had been taken to hospital with injuries.

The Indian government says 400 people and 87 soldiers were killed during the 1984 military raid to flush out Sikh separatists from the Golden Temple at Amritsar, codenamed Operation Blue Star.

But Sikh groups say the number of casualties was much higher and estimate it closer to 1,000.

On Friday, hundreds of Sikhs had gathered at the shrine to remember those killed in the June 6 raid 30 years ago, but the ceremony soon erupted into chaos.

Storming of the Golden Temple

  • 1982: Armed Sikh militants, led by Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, take up residence in the Golden Temple complex
  • 3-8 June 1984: The Indian army attacks the Golden Temple, killing Bhindranwale, his supporters and a number of civilians
  • 31 October 1984: Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi who had given the go-ahead to Operation Blue Star, was assassinated by two Sikh bodyguards
  • November 1984: More than 3,000 are killed in anti-Sikh riots across India

Read More: BBC 

#ANS2014

 

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Ace Worldwide News Group 19:57 on 04/02/2014
Tags: , , , Indira Gandhi, , , , Special Air Service,   

`Storming of the `Golden Temple’ in the `City of Amritsar’ was Intended to `Flush out Sikh’ Separatists’

#AceUKNews says `Golden Temple Attack: UK advised India but impact ‘limited’

Golden Temple in Amritsar, India.

Golden Temple in Amritsar, India. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The BBC News reported today that British military advice was given to India ahead of the 1984 deadly attack on a Sikh temple but it had only “limited impact”, MPs have been told.

Foreign Secretary William Hague was delivering the findings of a review into claims an SAS officer helped Delhi plan the raid which killed hundreds.

The storming of the Golden Temple in the city of Amritsar was intended to flush out Sikh separatists.

Mr Hague said UK assistance was “purely advisory” and given months beforehand.

The inquiry was launched last month after declassified documents were said to suggest Margaret Thatcher’s government was involved in planning the raid, called Operation Blue Star.

Official figures put the death toll at 575, but Mr Hague said other reports suggested “as many as 3,000 people were killed including pilgrims caught in the crossfire”.

1984: 

The investigation, carried out by Cabinet Secretary Sir Jeremy Heywood, involved searching 200 files and 23,000 documents.

Prime Minister David Cameron said: “I hope the manner in which we have investigated these dreadful events will provide some reassurance to the Sikh community, here in Britain and elsewhere.”

Retired Lt Gen Kuldeep Singh Brar, who led Operation Blue Star, maintains he had no advice or support from Britain.

“If some things went around months earlier or weeks earlier with other agencies, intelligence agencies, I am not aware of them,” he told the BBC.

“From the time I was given command of Operation Blue Star until I planned it and executed it, let me emphatically tell you that there was no involvement whatsoever as far as the British are concerned.”

Indira Gandhi assassinated

Indira Gandhi is elected as the first female P...

Indira Gandhi is elected as the first female Prime Minister of India (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

David Cameron ordered the review last month after Labour MP Tom Watson said he had seen papers from Margaret Thatcher “authorising Special Air Services (SAS) to work with the Indian government”.

Mr Watson cited two letters released under the 30-year rule. He said a 1984 letter from the prime minister’s office stated that a British adviser had “visited India and drawn up a plan” which had been approved by the Indian government.

The Sikh separatists at the Golden Temple in 1984 had demanded an independent homeland – called Khalistan – in Punjab.

In October 1984 Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was assassinated by her Sikh bodyguards in what was thought to be a revenge attack for what happened at the Golden Temple.

A month later, more than 3,000 people were killed in anti-Sikh riots across India.

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