New York, USA (January 15, 2014): With the information going public that Special Air Service (SAS) of United Kingdom was involved in planning the invasion of Golden Temple in 1984, “Sikhs For Justice” (SFJ) an international human rights group with the support of Sikh groups across World announced that British Parliament should immediately pass a “Resolution that action of PM Thatcher of colluding with Indira Gandhi to attack the holiest Sikh shrine was wrong”.
The demand to pass resolution in British parliament is being supported by Sikh organizations from Punjab, UK, United States, Canada, Australia, Germany, Italy and Switzerland. American Gurudwara Prabhandik Committee (AGPC), an umbrella organization of Gurudwaras across United States, “Canadian Sikh Coalition” (CSC), an umbrella organization of Gurudwaras across Canada, Sewa 84, a UK based human rights NGO, “Movement Against Atrocities and Repression”, a Swiss based human rights group, “Supreme Sikh Council of Australia”, “Voices For Freedom”, a US based human rights NGO, and All India Sikh Students Federation (AISSF), a Punjab based Sikh social organization.
Indira Gandhi ordered the military invasion of Golden Temple in 1984 to suppress the demands of Sikh sovereignty, resulting in the death of more than ten thousand innocent pilgrims who were in attendance to commemorate the martyrdom of Guru Arjun Devji.
Citing the statement of Winsten Churchill who stated the “British people are highly indebted and obliged to Sikhs for a long time. I know that within this century we needed their help twice and they did help us very well. As a result of their timely help, we are today able to live with honor, dignity, and independence”, attorney Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, legal advisor to SFJ stated that unfortunately when the Sikh Nation needed the United Kingdom’s help, Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher betrayed the Sikh interests and assisted Indira Gandhi in planning the invasion of Harmandir Sahib by Indian army.” The British parliament must publicly acknowledge with a resolution that the assistance afforded to the Indians in 1984 and the participation of SAS Officers was wrong added attorney Pannun.
According to Jatinder Singh Grewal, International Policy Director, SFJ, Canada, the participation of British forces in planning invasion of Golden Temple with Indian army exposes Indira Gandhi’s nefarious design to suppress the voices of Sikh sovereignty by involving world powers. Using PM Thatcher in her plans to attack clearly shows Indira Gandhi’s malicious intent of attacking Golden Temple on a day when it is crowded with pilgrims and an attempt to justify army assault on holiest Sikh shrine with being answerable to international community added Grewal.
SFJ announced that “Rally’s will be held in America, Canada, Germany, France, Italy, Australia, New Zealand in the month of February to mark the 30th year of UK’s collusion with Indian Government to attack Golden Temple and to push for a resolution in British parliament declaring that PM Thatcher’s action was wrong.