Latest news with #GoldenTempleMassacre
Sky News
3 days ago
- General
- Sky News
Inquiry into UK's role in 1984 Golden Temple massacre 'under consideration'
An inquiry into the UK's military role in the 1984 Golden Temple massacre is "under consideration", Sky News has been told. Secret documents released in 2014 revealed that the Margaret Thatcher-led government at the time sent a SAS officer to help guide the Indian government with the attack, which killed hundreds of civilians. Since then, the Sikh community has been demanding full transparency on the affair, especially as many files remain classified. The most high-profile Sikh MP, Tan Dhesi, told Sky News he has had conversations "with ministers and others in Number 10" who said an inquiry is "under consideration". Mr Dhesi, who is also the Labour chair of the influential House of Commons Defence Committee, said: "My message to the government is that it's about time that the Sikh community got their truth and transparency. "That can only come about through an inquiry to establish the extent of the Thatcher-led government's involvement." Operation Blue Star in June 1984 saw Indian forces storm the Golden Temple, the holiest Sikh shrine in Amritsar, where armed separatists who sought the creation of an independent Sikh homeland had taken refuge. Thousands gathered in central London on Sunday to implore Labour's leadership to honour their commitment to hold an independent public inquiry into potential British involvement in the Golden Temple massacre. While in opposition, Labour made multiple promises to hold an independent inquiry, including: In their 2017 and 2019 manifestos. A letter addressed to the Sikh community from Sir Keir Starmer as the Leader of the Opposition in 2022, which stated: "A future Labour government will open an independent inquiry into Britain's military role in the Indian army's 1984 raid on the Golden Temple in Amritsar." A social media post from the now Deputy Prime Minister, Angela Rayner, a month before last year's general election, which said: "Labour stands with the Sikh community in calling for an inquiry into the historic role Britain played." Almost 11 months into Labour's time in power, there has not been any official government update on this matter. Sky News approached the Foreign Office for comment, who pointed us to a January 2025 exchange in the House between Mr Dhesi and the Leader of the House, Lucy Powell, who said: "I know that this matter is of great importance to the Sikh community across the UK. We need to get to the bottom of what happened, and I will ensure that the ministers responsible are in touch with him [Mr Dhesi] to discuss the matter further." Earlier this year, more than 400 Sikh groups wrote to the prime minister, urging Sir Keir to launch an inquiry as he promised. Speaking at Sunday's rally in central London, Dabinderjit Singh OBE, the lead executive for political engagement at the Sikh Federation (UK), said: "It is totally unacceptable that the Labour leadership remains silent on its promise. "A judge-led public inquiry must take place so we have the full truth. If Labour breaks its promise, it will be an act of betrayal. "Labour will lose much of the Sikh vote if they let us down." The Conservative-led government under Prime Minister David Cameron conducted an internal review in 2014, which concluded that the UK's role was "purely advisory" and "limited", involving a single military adviser providing early-stage planning advice to Indian authorities. However, this investigation was criticised as a cover-up due to its limited scope and quick timeframe. The Indian government's official position is that Operation Blue Star was a military operation carried out against armed militants, not the Sikh community.
The Guardian
3 days ago
- General
- The Guardian
UK Sikhs may ‘no platform' Labour MPs over lack of Amritsar massacre inquiry
British Sikhs are threatening to 'no platform' Labour MPs over failure to deliver a public inquiry into UK complicity in the 1984 Golden Temple massacre in India, amid warnings 'frustrated' Sikh voters could back Reform UK. Over 450 gurdwaras, charities, associations and university societies have written to prime minister Keir Starmer demanding he honour previous promises to fully investigate the affair or risk 'massive consequences for the re-election of many Labour MPs.' The ultimatum coincides with a Trafalgar Square rally on Sunday marking the 41st anniversary of the massacre in Amritsar, when thousands of people were killed after Indian forces stormed Sikhism's holiest site to remove firebrand leader Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, horrifying moderates. The letter, dated 1 June, said the Sikh community is 'hugely disappointed there has been a deafening silence' to recent letters and calls for timelines for an inquiry that would investigate 'UK involvement in the Indian military operation and anti-Sikh measures in Britain when Margaret Thatcher was in power.' In 2014, the accidental release of documents revealed Thatcher's government had full knowledge of India's plan, Operation Blue Star, with an SAS officer advising beforehand. David Cameron ordered his most senior civil servant to investigate, but his review, which said the British officer's advice was ignored by the Indian army, disappointed Sikhs, with Labour politicians, including Keir Starmer in a 2022 letter, repeatedly promising an independent inquiry. Campaigners, who had hoped an inquiry would be launched before the end of the tragedy's 40th anniversary year, are now warning that Labour MPs face being banned from Sikh temples and events. 'Regrettably, we are today being forced to put the Labour leadership on notice,' the letter adds. 'If a judge-led public inquiry is not announced in parliament by the end of July 2025 the Sikh community will implement a 'no platform' policy for all Labour MPs from 1 August that are not supporting a judge-led public inquiry … Sikhs are well-respected (and) can build political alliances. Sikhs may need to make it their business to campaign with others locally and nationally to get the wider public to punish Labour for broken promises.' The Guardian has seen a list of seats nationwide where Sikh Federation UK has identified the 'Sikh vote' as 'critical'. Dabinderjit Singh, the Sikh Federation's executive lead, warned Labour faced 'permanent' loss of support from the 'majority' of the community, which they believe is a million-strong – double the figure in the last census – with not everyone recording their religion and recent migration. Meanwhile, concerns have intensified among British Sikhs about India's treatment of minorities and transnational repression, amid strengthening UK trade ties. Singh said talks were under way with the Lib Dems, Reform and the SNP about support for an inquiry, and that every Labour MP would be written to, adding: 'There are 105 (seats) we're monitoring where the Sikh vote will matter, including Ilford North, Ilford South, Wolverhampton seats, Birmingham seats, Derby seats. 'Labour announced the (Pat Finucane) inquiry in September … don't tell us, when there were thousands of people killed in 1984, that our lives matter less.' Sign up to First Edition Our morning email breaks down the key stories of the day, telling you what's happening and why it matters after newsletter promotion 'Following the 1st May election … some people are saying Sikhs are going to start to vote Reform,' he added. 'I think it's the frustration. Lots of people just get so frustrated with politicians making promises and then doing the exact opposite, on a range of issues. That's the bigger danger – that people therefore look for something different, independent candidates, Reform candidates, Green candidates.' Singh said while he 'struggled' personally with Reform's stances, he added: 'I've met Nigel Farage before, and Ukip, as it was then, were greatly supportive on Sikh issues … for their own reasons. I can see things getting really divisive.' Two British Sikh candidates ran for Reform in 2024's general election in London. Meanwhile Rajbir Singh, a former Labour leader of Sandwell council in the West Midlands, defected to Reform in April. Approached for comment, the Foreign Office pointed to comments made in January by leader of the house, Lucy Powell, who, asked when an independent inquiry would be initiated, said: 'I know that this matter is of great importance to the Sikh community across the UK … we need to get to the bottom of what happened.'
Sky News
02-04-2025
- Politics
- Sky News
More than 400 Sikh groups call on Starmer to launch 'promised' inquiry on Golden Temple massacre
More than 400 Gurdwaras and Sikh organisations are calling on Sir Keir Starmer to launch an inquiry he promised into potential British involvement in the Golden Temple Massacre. The groups have signed a letter that was sent to the prime minister urging him to follow through on a commitment made in 2022. The calls relate to questions around what part the UK and British special forces played in the 1984 killings, in which hundreds of Sikhs died after the Indian military entered the temple complex where separatists had sought refuge. In 2014, the UK government accidentally revealed Margaret Thatcher was aware of the Indian state's intention to raid the temple and in the months before the raid, a British SAS officer provided advice to the Indian government. A subsequent investigation commissioned by David Cameron found that a single officer provided advice - and there was "no evidence of UK government involvement in the operation itself". However, this investigation was criticised as a cover-up due to its limited scope and quick timeframe. In 2022, Sir Keir wrote to all Gurdwaras and Sikh organisations, saying: "A future Labour government will open an independent inquiry into Britain's military role in the Indian army's 1984 raid on the Golden Temple in Amritsar. It is important that we are open, transparent and above reproach in understanding any role the UK may have played in such events. "This is something I know is important to our Sikh communities here and throughout the world." However, an announcement on the inquiry is yet to materialise. In the letter sent to the prime minister by the Sikh Federation, seen by Sky News, Sir Keir is told: "If what is eventually proposed by a Labour government fails to deliver the 'truth' as promised by you this will have massive political ramifications for the Sikh community's support for Labour in future elections for many generations." The federation says an inquiry "must" be announced by 31 May. In a letter to Labour MPs, the Sikh Federation also called on them to put pressure on the government to start an inquiry. The organisation also said it had heard "extremely worrying rumours" that the Foreign, Commonwealth And Development Office has been under pressure from the Indian government to "avoid or limit" an independent inquiry. It added: "Civil servants are understood to be advising that a public inquiry is expensive and could damage relations with India." The UK is currently trying to negotiate a new trade agreement with India in the wake of Brexit. Attempts by the Conservative government failed due to a difference in position over visas. There is a campaign among some in the Sikh community for an independent nation to be established - known as Khalistan - out of parts of the Punjab region in northern India. These efforts are strongly opposed by Narendra Modhi's Hindu nationalist BJP movement.
