JUNE 1984 Army Action Was an Invasion and Not Law and Order Enforcement

The Indian Army did not invade a foreign country on 1 June 1984. It invaded own territory and own Indian citizens. It is true that Sikhs have always insisted on being treated as a distinct theo-political entity in their own historical right. They are a distinct people with the inalienable right to be able to decide own future. They chose to side with India in 1947. In June 1984, the Indian state ordered the army to invade the homeland of the Sikhs.

At Darbar Sahib and in Gurdwaras across Panjab, Sikh Sangats were gathering in large numbers for the Shaheedi Gurpurab (martyrdom anniversary) of Guru Arjan Dev on 3 June 1984. Directed by the central government of Mrs Indira Gandhi at Delhi, the Indian Army chose that time to start Operation Blue Star.

Over 100,000 troops, tanks, heavy artillery, and trained commandos were deployed. There was a total communications blackout and the state border was sealed. Including Darbar Sahib, dozens of Gurdwaras across Panjab were attacked. Sri Akal Takht Sahib building was destroyed. Those killed by the Army included innocent civilians of all age groups, devotees at Darbar Sahib and other Gurdwaras in Panjab. The army invasion was least expected near the Gurpurab and trapped large numbers of devotees inside Darbar Sahib complex under crossfire.

All constitutional safeguards and democratic checks and balances failed in June and, later in November 1984. The massive violence against the Sikhs, first by the army in June 1984 and then by elements of the majority community led by politicians, differed in nature but the message for the Sikhs was the same: that they were not equal citizens entitled to protection under the constitutions.

It was a betrayal of one of the most loyal and net contributing communities of India, the Sikh Qaum, on a scale which shocked not only the global Sikh community but the whole world. The impact on Sikh psyche was deep and permanent. It was the shock of betrayal (ਵਿਸਾਹਘਾਤ). Least did they expect such betrayal of their trust in own country and constitution. Truly Bhai Gurdas wrote: ਭਾਰੇ ਭੁਈਂ ਅਕਿਰਤਘਣ ਮੰਦੀ ਹੂ ਮੰਦੇ ॥੮॥ Ungrateful persons are a burden on earth and evil of evils. (Var 35.8).

June 1984 is a reminder of an ungrateful Hindutva-led Indian establishment in view of massive Sikh sacrifices for the independence of the Indian subcontinent from the days of the oppressive Mughal rule and, later, British colonial rule. They cast their lot with India as their country from 1947. Least did they expect an invasion on such a scale, like a child least expecting own mother to poison it. Again, we are reminded of Bhai Gurdas: ਜੇ ਮਾਉ ਪੁਤੈ ਵਿਸੁ ਦੇ ਤਿਸਤੇ ਕਿਸੁ ਪਿਆਰਾ। If a mother decides to poison own child then the unsuspecting child will still trust her []]thinking that, surely] no-one else can be dearer to her. (Var 35.22).

When the news of the Indian Army invasion of Darbar were heard in the UK, ex-colonial British, who knew the Sikhs well, were of the view that a grave mistake had been made. The historical fact is that the damage done to Sikh-Indian state relations is permanent.

June and November 1984 reminded the Sikhs that they were not equal citizens entitled to protection under the constitution of the country. Regrettably, despite some constructive suggestions the Sikh case remains a running sore and there is no closure in sight.

Gurmukh Singh OBE

E-mail: sewauk2005@yahoo.co.uk

https://www.sikhiwiki.org/index.php/Gurmukh_Singh_OBE