Cameron orders probe into UK’s Operation Bluestar link

Sikh groups react angrily to released Thatcher-era documents

LONDON: British Prime Minister David Cameron ordered an inquiry after Sikh g roups reacted with fury to released top-secret documents that say the UK’s elite force SAS (special air service) advised India on flushing out militants from the Golden Temple months before Operation Bluestar in June 1984.

The documents, not digitised, so far, were discovered by Paul Miller, a researcher at charity organisation Corporate Watch, and seized upon by Labour MP Tom Watson and several Sikh g roups, who called on the Cameron gover nment for a full inquiry.

“We understand the very legitimate concerns that these papers will raise,” said a foreign office spokesman, adding: “The Prime Minister has asked the cabinet secretary to establish the facts.”

The PM and the foreign secretary had been unaware of the papers prior to publication, the spokesman said, adding: “Any requests today for advice from foreign governments are always evaluated carefully with full ministerial overseeing and appropriate legal advice.”

The document was in a cache of papers related to the tenure of Margaret Thatcher as British Prime Minister released earlier this month, and the specific file was related to “Thatcher’s involvement in negotiating British arms sales to India,” National Archives sources have told the Hindustan Times.

The Network of Sikh Organisations ( NSO) led by Lord Indarjit Singh said on Monday night that Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) had accepted his offer of support to any investigation.

“I am shocked and disappointed that the UK government and armed forces could be involved in planning the attack on the Golden Temple complex, including Harmandar Sahib and the Akal Takht,” said Sikh Council UK secretary-general Gurmel Singh.

“Thousands of innocent men, women and children were killed in the attack that took place on one of the holiest days in the Sikh calendar,” said Gurmel Singh, adding: “Buildings and property were also destroyed and the historical Sikh reference library ransacked. It remains one of the darkest episodes in the faith’s history.”

Calling for an urgent inquiry and a full disclosure of all documents, Gurmel also wanted to know “what else was the UK government saying and doing back then (in 1984)”.

“The Sikh community this year commemorates the 30th anniversary of the events of 1984,” said Gurdial Singh Atwal, chair of Indian Affairs Sub-Committee of Sikh Council, UK.

“We also commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Sikh sacrifices in World War 1. To proud and loyal British Sikhs, it is a matter of great offence and distress that a UK government could have been involved in planning an attack on our beloved Har mandar Sahib, and it had been hidden for too long,” he added.

“It is not unreasonable to ask for an explanation about the extent of British military collusion with the (1984) government of Indira Gandhi,” said Labour MP Tom Watson.

The MP will write to the foreign secretary and raise the matte in the House of Commons as well, expecting “a full explanation”.