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.
The Golden Temple is located in the town of Amritsar in the northern state of India’s Punjab. File pic: f9photos/iStock
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…
