Senior Congress leader and former Union Minister P Chidambaram has described the 1984 Operation Blue Star as a “mistake” and the “wrong way” to reclaim the Golden Temple in Amritsar, Punjab, and that former prime minister Indira Gandhi paid the ultimate price for that decision. Speaking at the Khushwant Singh Literary Festival 2025, in Kasauli on Saturday, Chidambaram said, “No disrespect to any military officers, but that was the wrong way to retrieve the Golden Temple. A few years later, we showed the right way to retrieve it—by keeping the Army out. Blue Star was the wrong way, and I agree that Mrs Gandhi paid with her life for that mistake.” Chidambaram also said that the operation, carried out in June 1984 under Gandhi’s leadership, was a collective decision involving the Army, police, intelligence, and civil services, and could not be blamed solely on Indira Gandhi.&nbsp;The former Union home and finance minister further contrasted it with Operation Black Thunder, which took place a few years later, and said that it was the right approach, as it kept the Army out of the Sikh holy shrine.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">VIDEO | Senior Congress leader and former Home Minister P Chidambaram says, &quot;No disrespect to any military officers here but that (Blue Star) was a wrong way to retrieve the Golden Temple. Few years later, we showed the right way to retrieve the Golden Temple by keeping out the… <a href="https://t.co/ZuA87mbxYO">pic.twitter.com/ZuA87mbxYO</a>&mdash; Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) <a href="https://twitter.com/PTI_News/status/1977249847209054628?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 12, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

&nbsp;&nbsp;Chidambaram made the remarks while speaking at a session on ‘They Will Shoot You, Madam: My Life Through Conflict’ with author Harinder Baweja.&nbsp;<h2>What was Operation Blue Star?</h2>&nbsp;Operation Blue Star was a military action carried out from June 1 to June 10, 1984, when the Army entered the Golden Temple in Amritsar on the orders of then PM Indira Gandhi to crush a separatist uprising led by radical preacher Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale after reports that his supporters had stored weapons inside the temple complex.&nbsp;The assault deeply hurt the Sikh community, sparking widespread outrage. On October 31, 1984, Indira Gandhi was assassinated by her Sikh bodyguards in retaliation for the attack on the Golden Temple, triggering anti-Sikh riots across India.&nbsp;<h2>Congress expresses displeasure on Chidambaram’s remarks</h2>&nbsp;Meanwhile, the Congress party reacted to Chidambaram’s remarks and expressed its displeasure. Congress leader Rashid Alvi questioned the reasons for Chidambaram making statements against the party, as criminal cases against him are still pending.“Whether Operation Blue Star was right or wrong is a different matter. But what compels P Chidambaram to attack the Congress party, Indira Gandhi, claiming she took the wrong step, after 50 years?” Alvi told news agency ANI.&nbsp;“It’s unfortunate. Chidambaram ji’s repeated attacks on the Congress party are raising many doubts and misgivings. Criminal cases against him are still pending. I wonder if he’s under any pressure to continue attacking the Congress party,” Alvi said.Last month, Chidambaram had stirred a controversy with his remarks on the 26/11 terror attacks, when he suggested in an interview that he personally favoured military retribution against Pakistan, but the government led by then PM Manmohan Singh decided to go by the external affairs ministry’s view to resort to diplomatic measures.

Operation Blue Star, carried out from June 1 to June 10, 1984, deeply hurt the Sikh community, sparking widespread outrage. On October 31, 1984, Indira Gandhi was assassinated by her Sikh bodyguards in retaliation for the attack on the Golden Temple, triggering anti-Sikh riots across India.

Senior Congress leader and former Union Minister P Chidambaram has described the 1984 Operation Blue Star as a “mistake” and the “wrong way” to reclaim the Golden Temple in Amritsar, Punjab, and that former prime minister Indira Gandhi paid the ultimate price for that decision. Speaking at the Khushwant Singh Literary Festival 2025, in Kasauli on Saturday, Chidambaram said, “No disrespect to any military officers, but that was the wrong way to retrieve the Golden Temple. A few years later, we showed the right way to retrieve it—by keeping the Army out. Blue Star was the wrong way, and I agree that Mrs Gandhi paid with her life for that mistake.” Chidambaram also said that the operation, carried out in June 1984 under Gandhi’s leadership, was a collective decision involving the Army, police, intelligence, and civil services, and could not be blamed solely on Indira Gandhi. The former Union home and finance minister further contrasted it with Operation Black Thunder, which took place a few years later, and said that it was the right approach, as it kept the Army out of the Sikh holy shrine.

Operation Blue Star, carried out from June 1 to June 10, 1984, deeply hurt the Sikh community, sparking widespread outrage. On October 31, 1984, Indira Gandhi was assassinated by her Sikh bodyguards in retaliation for the attack on the Golden Temple, triggering anti-Sikh riots across India.

‘Operation Blue Star a mistake, wrong way to retrieve Golden Temple’: Chidambaram

On the 40th anniversary of Operation Blue Star in the north Indian state of Punjab, some members of the Sikh community on Thursday (June 6) raised pro-Khalistan slogans within the Golden Temple complex in Amritsar, the site of the military operation to weed out separatists.

Posters of Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, the prominent Khalistani separatist at the time, were also seen during the demonstration.

Blue Star Operation&nbsp;

Indian Army's ‘Blue Star Operation’ began on June 1, 1984. The operation was carried out to eliminate Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, who had taken shelter in the Golden Temple.&nbsp;

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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WATCH</a> | Punjab: On the 40th anniversary of Operation Blue Star, members of the Sikh community raise slogans inside the Golden Temple premises in Amritsar. 
 
Posters of Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale also seen during the demonstration. Pro-Khalistan slogans also raised. <a href="https://t.co/QTrrpnekCq">pic.twitter.com/QTrrpnekCq</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1798551798447477173?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 6, 2024</a></blockquote>
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The then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi had approved the operation, which had a massive repercussion, leading to violent communal clashes. The operation took place from June 1 to June 10, 1984.

Security beefed up in Amritsar

The Punjab police have beefed up security across Amritsar in order to prevent any unforeseen incidents.

The police have deployed around 2,300 jawans to guard Amritsar City.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/delhi-water-crisis-sc-directs-hp-to-release-137-cusecs-surplus-water-729293">Delhi water crisis: SC directs HP to release 137 cusecs surplus water</a>

This includes two companies of the BSF, one of the CRPF, as well as 1,000 anti-riot police personnel, and officers from neighbouring districts, said a police spokesperson.&nbsp;

Security forces have been deployed throughout Amritsar, with checkpoints established on roads leading to the Golden Temple and SGPC task force personnel bolstering security within the complex.

The Dal Khalsa organised a procession in memory of those who lost their lives during Operation Blue Star, referring to it as a "holocaust remembrance" parade.&nbsp;

The radical group also announced a call for an Amritsar Bandh on June 6.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/lok-sabha-elections-74-women-won-polls-this-time-slight-dip-from-2019-west-bengals-tmc-top-the-charts-729299">Lok Sabha Elections: 74 women won polls this time, slight dip from 2019; West Bengal’s TMC top the charts</a>

The occasion also came in the wake of&nbsp;the overwhelming election victories of detained radical Sikh leader Amritpal Singh and Sarabjeet Singh Khalsa, the son of Beant Singh, one of the assassins of former PM Indira Gandhi.

(With inputs from agencies)

On the 40th anniversary of Operation Blue Star in the north Indian state of Punjab, some members of the Sikh community on Thursday (June 6) raised pro-Khalistan slogans within the Golden Temple complex in Amritsar, the site of the military operation to weed out separatists.

On the 40th anniversary of Operation Blue Star in the north Indian state of Punjab, some members of the Sikh community on Thursday (June 6) raised pro-Khalistan slogans within the Golden Temple complex in Amritsar, the site of the military operation to weed out separatists. Posters of Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, the prominent Khalistani separatist at the time, were also seen during the demonstration. Blue Star Operation Indian Army's ‘Blue Star Operation’ began on June 1, 1984. The operation was carried out to eliminate Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, who had taken shelter in the Golden Temple. #WATCH | Punjab: On the 40th anniversary of Operation Blue Star, members of the Sikh community raise slogans inside the Golden Temple premises in Amritsar. Posters of Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale also seen during the demonstration. Pro-Khalistan slogans also raised. pic.twitter.com/QTrrpnekCq — ANI (@ANI) June 6, 2024 × The then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi had approved the operation, which had a massive repercussion, leading to violent communal clashes. The operation took place from June 1 to June 10, 1984. Security beefed up in Amritsar The Punjab police have beefed up security across Amritsar in order to prevent any unforeseen incidents. The police have deployed around 2,300 jawans to guard Amritsar City. Also read: Delhi water crisis: SC directs HP to release 137 cusecs surplus water This includes two companies of the BSF, one of the CRPF, as well as 1,000 anti-riot police personnel, and officers from neighbouring districts, said a police spokesperson. Security forces have been deployed throughout Amritsar, with checkpoints established on roads leading to the Golden Temple and SGPC task force personnel bolstering security within the complex. The Dal Khalsa organised a procession in memory of those who lost their lives during Operation Blue Star, referring to it as a "holocaust remembrance" parade. The radical group also announced a call for an Amritsar Bandh on June 6. Also read: Lok Sabha Elections: 74 women won polls this time, slight dip from 2019; West Bengal’s TMC top the charts The occasion also came in the wake of the overwhelming election victories of detained radical Sikh leader Amritpal Singh and Sarabjeet Singh Khalsa, the son of Beant Singh, one of the assassins of former PM Indira Gandhi. (With inputs from agencies)

Operation Blue Star anniversary marked by pro-Khalistan slogans at Golden Temple

The Canadian enforcement authorities have denied any “hate crime” involved in the display of tableau celebrating the assassination of India’s former prime minister&nbsp;Indira Gandhi at a parade in Canada’s Brampton city.

“Police have looked at the video and it’s their determination it does not constitute a hate crime,” Brampton mayor Patrick Brown said in a statement on Saturday.

The mayor further said that Canadians are “guaranteed freedom of thought, belief and expression” under Section 2 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

“Any decision to change Section 2 would be at the federal level. Police enforce laws. They don’t write them,” the statement added.

So far, there has been no official reaction from Canada’s federal government, except the one issued by Canada’s High Commissioner to India Cameron McKay on June 5 condemning the incident.

&nbsp;“I am appalled by reports of an event in Canada that celebrated the assassination of late Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. There is no place in Canada for hate or for the glorification of violence. I categorically condemn these activities,” he had tweeted.

<h2>What really happened?</h2>

The incident came to light after a video went viral on Twitter, in which a user wrote, "A float depicting the murder of the late Indian PM by her Sikh bodyguards being part of about a 5 KM long parade in the city of Brampton on June 4th. Jody Thomas may reflect on it!"

The video purportedly showed Gandhi in a blood-stained white saree while turban-clad men point guns at her. A poster on the tableau read: “Revenge for attack on Shri Darbar Sahib”.

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Does it help Canada's 'Indo-Pacific strategy'? A float depicting murder of late Indian PM by her Sikh bodyguards being part of about 5 KM long parade in city of Brampton on June 4th. Jody Thomas may reflect on it! <a href="https://t.co/rBFn7vMKyz">pic.twitter.com/rBFn7vMKyz</a>
— Balraj Deol (@BalrajDeol4) <a href="https://twitter.com/BalrajDeol4/status/1665944675335692288?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 6, 2023</a></blockquote>
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The tableau was referring to the 1984 Operation Bluestar launched by the then prime minister Indira Gandhi, in which she had ordered the security forces to raid the Golden Temple – one of the most significant shrines for Sikhs – in Punjab after separatist leader Jarnail Bhindranwale took refuge in the Gurudwara complex. Two years later, Gandhi was shot dead by two of her Sikh bodyguards.

<h2>India's reaction</h2>

India took umbrage at the ghastly depiction and sought urgent action from the Canadian authorities.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/canadian-envoy-slams-indira-gandhis-assassination-tableau-in-brampton-602251">Canadian envoy to India slams Indira Gandhi assassination tableau in Brampton</a>

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said the float is linked to the bigger issue of the “space that Canada has continuously” provided to Khalistani elements. He added that it was not good for the ‘relationships’ of the two nations.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/watch-tableau-celebrating-death-of-former-indian-pm-indira-gandhi-surfaces-in-canada-601806">Watch: Tableau celebrating death of former Indian PM Indira Gandhi surfaces in Canada</a>

“I think there is a larger underlying issue about the space which is given to separatists, to extremists, to people who advocate violence. I think it is not good for relationships, not good for Canada,” Jaishankar added.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

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The Canadian enforcement authorities have denied any “hate crime” involved in the display of tableau celebrating the assassination of India’s former prime minister Indira Gandhi at a parade in Canada’s Brampton city.

The Canadian enforcement authorities have denied any “hate crime” involved in the display of tableau celebrating the assassination of India’s former prime minister Indira Gandhi at a parade in Canada’s Brampton city. “Police have looked at the video and it’s their determination it does not constitute a hate crime,” Brampton mayor Patrick Brown said in a statement on Saturday. The mayor further said that Canadians are “guaranteed freedom of thought, belief and expression” under Section 2 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. “Any decision to change Section 2 would be at the federal level. Police enforce laws. They don’t write them,” the statement added. So far, there has been no official reaction from Canada’s federal government, except the one issued by Canada’s High Commissioner to India Cameron McKay on June 5 condemning the incident. “I am appalled by reports of an event in Canada that celebrated the assassination of late Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. There is no place in Canada for hate or for the glorification of violence. I categorically condemn these activities,” he had tweeted. What really happened? The incident came to light after a video went viral on Twitter, in which a user wrote, "A float depicting the murder of the late Indian PM by her Sikh bodyguards being part of about a 5 KM long parade in the city of Brampton on June 4th. Jody Thomas may reflect on it!" The video purportedly showed Gandhi in a blood-stained white saree while turban-clad men point guns at her. A poster on the tableau read: “Revenge for attack on Shri Darbar Sahib”. Does it help Canada's 'Indo-Pacific strategy'? A float depicting murder of late Indian PM by her Sikh bodyguards being part of about 5 KM long parade in city of Brampton on June 4th. Jody Thomas may reflect on it! pic.twitter.com/rBFn7vMKyz — Balraj Deol (@BalrajDeol4) June 6, 2023 × The tableau was referring to the 1984 Operation Bluestar launched by the then prime minister Indira Gandhi, in which she had ordered the security forces to raid the Golden Temple – one of the most significant shrines for Sikhs – in Punjab after separatist leader Jarnail Bhindranwale took refuge in the Gurudwara complex. Two years later, Gandhi was shot dead by two of her Sikh bodyguards. India's reaction India took umbrage at the ghastly depiction and sought urgent action from the Canadian authorities. Also read | Canadian envoy to India slams Indira Gandhi assassination tableau in Brampton External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said the float is linked to the bigger issue of the “space that Canada has continuously” provided to Khalistani elements. He added that it was not good for the ‘relationships’ of the two nations. Also read | Watch: Tableau celebrating death of former Indian PM Indira Gandhi surfaces in Canada “I think there is a larger underlying issue about the space which is given to separatists, to extremists, to people who advocate violence. I think it is not good for relationships, not good for Canada,” Jaishankar added. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Displaying assassination tableau of India’s former PM Indira Gandhi ‘not hate crime’: Canada

India has removed 312 foreign nationals from the Sikh community from its central "adverse list" and now these people can get a visa to visit India and even get an Overseas Citizen of India or OCI card. The list now only has two people on the list.

A government source said, "Government reviewed adverse list containing Sikh foreign nationals...review is a continuous and dynamic process and is a part of a regular exercise."

Explaining the benefit, the source added, "These Sikh foreign nationals would now be eligible to avail Indian visa services to reconnect to their roots and visit their families in India."

The people will now become eligible for issuance of long term Indian visas and become eligible for (OCI) card. They will be granted OCI card after holding normal visas for a period of two years.

Most of the Sikh Indian nationals on the list had left India to escape the authorities in the early 1980s in the aftermath of turmoil following operation Blue Star to flush out Khalistani terrorist occupying the holiest shrine in Sikhism - The Harmandir Sahib in Amritsar.&nbsp;

The Indian missions abroad have also done away with the maintenance of "local adverse lists". The missions will now grant an appropriate visa to all categories of asylees or people whose names have been removed from the central adverse list &amp; derivative asylees or families of such foreign citizens.

India has removed 312 foreign nationals from the Sikh community from its central "adverse list" and now these people can get a visa to visit India and even get an Overseas Citizen of India or OCI card.

India has removed 312 foreign nationals from the Sikh community from its central "adverse list" and now these people can get a visa to visit India and even get an Overseas Citizen of India or OCI card. The list now only has two people on the list. A government source said, "Government reviewed adverse list containing Sikh foreign nationals...review is a continuous and dynamic process and is a part of a regular exercise." Explaining the benefit, the source added, "These Sikh foreign nationals would now be eligible to avail Indian visa services to reconnect to their roots and visit their families in India." The people will now become eligible for issuance of long term Indian visas and become eligible for (OCI) card. They will be granted OCI card after holding normal visas for a period of two years. Most of the Sikh Indian nationals on the list had left India to escape the authorities in the early 1980s in the aftermath of turmoil following operation Blue Star to flush out Khalistani terrorist occupying the holiest shrine in Sikhism - The Harmandir Sahib in Amritsar. The Indian missions abroad have also done away with the maintenance of "local adverse lists". The missions will now grant an appropriate visa to all categories of asylees or people whose names have been removed from the central adverse list & derivative asylees or families of such foreign citizens.

India removes 312 Sikh foreign nationals from 'adverse list'

Both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress President Rahul Gandhi are arriving in the state of Kerala on Friday for short visits after the Lok Sabha elections.Watch full visit to know more.

PM Modi to offer prayers at Kerala temple, Rahul Gandhi to visit Wayanad

A Brief Look At Operation Blue Star 35 Years Later.

Gravitas: What Was Operation Blue Star?

Former PM Indira Gandhi had ordered Operation Blue Star. This was Indian Army's biggest operation within India. Operation Blue Star was started on 1st June 1984. Operation lasted for one week and ended on 8th June. In this Golden Temple was taken over by terrorists. Watch this video to know more.

India Watch: 35 Yrs Of Operation Blue Star

Britain&#39;s Labour Party on Tuesday promised an independent inquiry into UK&rsquo;s role in Operation Bluestar in its manifesto for the June 8 election.

British special forces were allegedly involved in Operation Bluestar at Amritsar&rsquo;s Golden Temple in 1984.

The manifesto said: &ldquo;Labour remains committed to an independent inquiry into Britain&rsquo;s military role in the 1984 raid on the Golden Temple in Amritsar.&rdquo;

A poster from the Sikh Federation UK issued on Saturday quoted deputy leader of the Labour party Tom Watson as saying, &quot;Many Sikhs in the UK, including in my own constituency were shocked to learn about British involvement in the events leading up to the attack by the Indian army on the Golden Temple complex at Amritsar in 1984. The next Labour government will set up an independent inquiry so that UK Sikhs are given the full truth about what took place. They have already waited for too long for their questions about British involvement to be answered.&quot;

The controversy over UK&rsquo;s role in Operation Bluestar arose when some British documents declassified in January 2014 led to an inquiry by the cabinet secretary.&nbsp;

(WION)

The manifesto said, 'Labour remains committed to an independent inquiry into Britain?s military role in the 1984 raid on the Golden Temple in Amritsar'

Britain's Labour Party on Tuesday promised an independent inquiry into UK’s role in Operation Bluestar in its manifesto for the June 8 election. British special forces were allegedly involved in Operation Bluestar at Amritsar’s Golden Temple in 1984. The manifesto said: “Labour remains committed to an independent inquiry into Britain’s military role in the 1984 raid on the Golden Temple in Amritsar.” A poster from the Sikh Federation UK issued on Saturday quoted deputy leader of the Labour party Tom Watson as saying, "Many Sikhs in the UK, including in my own constituency were shocked to learn about British involvement in the events leading up to the attack by the Indian army on the Golden Temple complex at Amritsar in 1984. The next Labour government will set up an independent inquiry so that UK Sikhs are given the full truth about what took place. They have already waited for too long for their questions about British involvement to be answered." The controversy over UK’s role in Operation Bluestar arose when some British documents declassified in January 2014 led to an inquiry by the cabinet secretary. (WION)

Labour Party promises probe into UK role in Operation Bluestar

A UK-based Sikh campaign group today said it has launched an appeal to make public the secret files believed to hold details of Britain&#39;s alleged involvement in the 1984 Operation Blue Star that killed hundreds of people.

Sikh Federation UK&#39;s appeal with the UK&#39;s Information Tribunal will be heard in the New Year.

It centres around four files &quot;withheld&quot; during an official UK government inquiry ordered by former prime minister David Cameron into Britain&#39;s alleged involvement in the military action on Golden Temple in 1984.

&quot;The first tier tribunal will consider this case in the New Year and it would be inappropriate to comment any further,&quot; a UK Cabinet Office spokesperson said. 
The files include one titled &quot;UK/Indian relations: situation in Punjab; activities of Sikh extremists; proposed visit to UK by Rajiv Gandhi in June 1985&quot;.

The other documents include a Joint Intelligence Committee file on India; one with details of then British PM Margaret Thatcher&#39;s meetings with a close adviser of Indira Gandhi; and other papers under &quot;India: Political&quot; related to events around Mrs Gandhi&#39;s assassination in October 1984.

Sikh Federation UK, which believes the closed files will shed more light on the extent of Britain&#39;s alleged involvement in the military operation in Amritsar, had earlier complained to the UK&#39;s Information Commissioner to make these documents public but it was decided to keep the files closed as they were &quot;too sensitive&quot;.

The group has now issued an appeal against this decision on the grounds that the Commissioner did not take into account the &quot;thousands of civilian casualties during the Amritsar massacre as a public interest factor in favour of disclosing the information&quot;.

It claims the decision to keep the documents secret is &quot;political&quot; rather than security related and that the &quot;public has a right to know what happened 30 years ago&quot;. 
Bhai Amrik Singh, chair of Sikh Federation UK, said in a statement: &quot;This shows the lengths we are having to go to try and get to the truth and why we believe an

independent public inquiry is necessary to get to the information the UK government will continue to withhold.

&quot;We will take legal and other steps in 2017 to get to the truth of UK involvement and the ongoing conspiracy against Sikhs. Working with like-minded Sikhs in Punjab we will expose the role of Akali leaders, the Congress and BJP in the attempted genocide of the Sikhs to simply hold on to power.&quot;

In 2014, Cameron had ordered the Heywood Review into the exact nature of British involvement in the operation at Golden Temple in June 1984 after documents released previously under the 30-year declassification rule had implied British SAS commanders had advised the Indian government as it drew up plans?for the removal of militants from the Sikh shrine.

The report concluded that the nature of the UK&#39;s assistance was &quot;purely advisory&quot; and provided to the Indian government at an early stage of planning.

(PTI)

The files were "withheld" during an official UK government inquiry ordered by former prime minister David Cameron

A UK-based Sikh campaign group today said it has launched an appeal to make public the secret files believed to hold details of Britain's alleged involvement in the 1984 Operation Blue Star that killed hundreds of people. Sikh Federation UK's appeal with the UK's Information Tribunal will be heard in the New Year. It centres around four files "withheld" during an official UK government inquiry ordered by former prime minister David Cameron into Britain's alleged involvement in the military action on Golden Temple in 1984. "The first tier tribunal will consider this case in the New Year and it would be inappropriate to comment any further," a UK Cabinet Office spokesperson said. The files include one titled "UK/Indian relations: situation in Punjab; activities of Sikh extremists; proposed visit to UK by Rajiv Gandhi in June 1985". The other documents include a Joint Intelligence Committee file on India; one with details of then British PM Margaret Thatcher's meetings with a close adviser of Indira Gandhi; and other papers under "India: Political" related to events around Mrs Gandhi's assassination in October 1984. Sikh Federation UK, which believes the closed files will shed more light on the extent of Britain's alleged involvement in the military operation in Amritsar, had earlier complained to the UK's Information Commissioner to make these documents public but it was decided to keep the files closed as they were "too sensitive". The group has now issued an appeal against this decision on the grounds that the Commissioner did not take into account the "thousands of civilian casualties during the Amritsar massacre as a public interest factor in favour of disclosing the information". It claims the decision to keep the documents secret is "political" rather than security related and that the "public has a right to know what happened 30 years ago". Bhai Amrik Singh, chair of Sikh Federation UK, said in a statement: "This shows the lengths we are having to go to try and get to the truth and why we believe an independent public inquiry is necessary to get to the information the UK government will continue to withhold. "We will take legal and other steps in 2017 to get to the truth of UK involvement and the ongoing conspiracy against Sikhs. Working with like-minded Sikhs in Punjab we will expose the role of Akali leaders, the Congress and BJP in the attempted genocide of the Sikhs to simply hold on to power." In 2014, Cameron had ordered the Heywood Review into the exact nature of British involvement in the operation at Golden Temple in June 1984 after documents released previously under the 30-year declassification rule had implied British SAS commanders had advised the Indian government as it drew up plans?for the removal of militants from the Sikh shrine. The report concluded that the nature of the UK's assistance was "purely advisory" and provided to the Indian government at an early stage of planning. (PTI)

Sikh group to UK tribunal: Release Operation Blue Star files

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