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Time of India
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
No nod for Army guns at Golden Temple: Clergy
AMRITSAR: Any suggestion that Golden Temple authorities allowed Army to deploy air defence weaponry on their premises to foil Pakistani attacks in the aftermath of Operation Sindoor is "utterly shocking and untrue", the Sikh religious leadership said Tuesday, contesting a statement attributed to air defence in-charge Lt Gen Sumer Ivan D'Cunha. "No such permission was ever granted," Giani Amarjeet Singh , additional head granthi of the shrine, said.. SGPC chief Harjinder Singh Dhami said lights along outer circle of Golden Temple were switched off based on a security-related request from the administration. But he insisted there was "no communication with any Army official regarding installation of air defence guns at Golden Temple". In a statement later in the day, the Army said, "It is clarified that no air defence (AD) guns or any other AD resource was deployed within the premises of the Golden Temple."
United News of India
20-05-2025
- Politics
- United News of India
Indian Army Officer's statement about deploying Air Defence Guns at Sri Harmandar Sahib shockingly untrue: Head Granthi
Amritsar, May 20 (UNI) Giani Amarjeet Singh, Additional Head Granthi of Sachkhand Sri Harmandar Sahib, has termed as shockingly untrue, the recent claim made by Indian Army Lieutenant General Sumer Ivan D'Cunha during an interview with a channel—where he stated that air defence guns were deployed at Sri Harmandar Sahib amid the recent India-Pakistan tensions. Giani Amarjeet Singh clarified that the management of Sri Harmandar Sahib (Golden Temple) had cooperated with the district administration's guidelines regarding the city-wide blackout by switching off exterior and upper lights of the complex within the specified time frame. However, lights at locations where the religious code of conduct (Maryada) is observed were kept on, and the sanctity of the religious place was maintained with full responsibility. Giani Amarjeet Singh asserted that the claim made by the Army officer that the Head Granthi gave permission for the deploying air defence guns during 'Operation Sindhoor' was completely false. He emphasised that no such permission was ever granted, nor was any such deployment allowed at this sacred site. He reiterated that the daily religious practices at Sri Darbar Sahib, the Langar of Guru Ramdas Ji, places of Sri Akhand Path Sahib, and other related gurdwaras were conducted as per strict protocols. He further said that despite the tense situation in recent days, the full religious code of conduct continued at Sri Harmandar Sahib with dedication and discipline. Giani Amarjeet Singh made it clear that no lights were turned off at any religious site where Maryada was being observed, even during the blackout. He expressed surprise and concern over why such a statement was made by the Army officer and asserted confidently that no permission for installing guns was ever given. Regarding the same statement by the Army officer, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) President Advocate Harjinder Singh Dhami also said that while the administration contacted them only about switching off the lights during the blackout, they fully cooperated in the interest of administrative responsibility while maintaining the sanctity of the ongoing Maryada. The SGPC president added that however, there was no contact from any Army official regarding the installation of air defence guns at Sri Harmandar Sahib. He said that based on consultation with Additional Head Granthi Giani Amarjeet Singh, only the outer lights were turned off following the district administration's guidelines. Advocate Dhami pointed out that even during the blackout, large numbers of devotees continued to visit and do Sewa (voluntary service) at Sri Harmandar Sahib, and had there been any such event like gun deployment, the Sangat (congregation) would certainly have noticed and seen it. He expressed surprise that an Army officer would propagate such a claim and demanded that the Government of India clarify why such statements were being issued by Army officials. Adv. Dhami acknowledged the commendable role played by the Army and the country during the tense circumstances, but emphasised that the said statement days after the military events was shockingly untrue. As SGPC President, Advocate Dhami clearly stated that no permission was ever granted for the deployment of guns. Sri Harmandar Sahib's Head Granthi, Giani Raghbir Singh, also clarified that although he was on an international visit during the Army operation, there was no communication with him regarding any gun deployment, nor did any such incident occur at Sri Darbar Sahib. He too described the Army officer's statement as shockingly untrue. UNI GS RN
Indian Express
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
No permission given to Army for gun deployment at Golden Temple, Sikh clergy and SGPC clarify
A day after Lieutenant General Sumer Ivan D'Cunha, Director General of Army Air Defence, hinted that air defence guns were deployed at the Golden Temple in Amritsar to neutralise aerial threats from Pakistan earlier this month, Sikh religious authorities and the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) clarified on Tuesday that 'no such permission was granted'. 'It is incorrect to say that the Army was given permission to deploy air defence guns at Sri Harmandir Sahib. No such permission was granted, and no such deployment occurred,' Giani Amarjeet Singh, the additional head granthi of Sri Harmandir Sahib, said in a statement released by the SGPC. 'During the blackout issued by the Amritsar district administration, the management cooperated by switching off exterior and upper lights. However, at places where the religious code of conduct is followed, the lights remained on,' Giani Amarjeet Singh said. In an interview with news agency ANI, which was released on Monday, Lieutenant General D'Cunha had said, 'The Golden Temple hierarchy realised there was possibly a threat when it was explained to them. They allowed us to deploy guns, to protect… the Golden Temple's lights were switched off so that we could clearly visualise the drones as they were coming in…'. On Tuesday, Giani Amarjeet Singh said that religious practices continued without interruption. 'The daily services at Sri Darbar Sahib, Langar Sri Guru Ram Das Ji, Akhand Path Sahib, and related shrines were carried out as usual. There was no disruption, and no one has the right to interfere,' he further said. Giani Amarjeet Singh also questioned the basis of the Army official's statement. 'Why the officer made this claim, only he can explain. But I can say with certainty that no permission was given for such deployment,' he added. SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami also denied any coordination with the Army regarding gun deployment. 'The administration contacted us only to request cooperation with blackout protocols. We switched off the external lights after consulting with the additional head granthi. No Army official contacted us about any other matter,' Dhami said. 'If such a deployment had happened, devotees present at the shrine would have seen and noted it….The Indian government should clarify why such statements are being made by Army officials,' he added. ' Head Granthi Giani Raghbir Singh, who was abroad at the time, said, 'No one from the Army contacted me about deployment of any guns, and no such event took place at Sri Darbar Sahib. The Army officer's statement is surprising.' The Indian Army had said on Monday that it had 'mobilised additional modern air defence assets' to neutralise Pakistan's aerial threats aimed at critical sites, including the Golden Temple and cities across Punjab.
