Army says Pakistan targeted Golden Temple: Sikh authorities refute claim

The head granthi of the Golden Temple and the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) have categorically rejected the Indian Army’s claim that air defence guns were deployed at Sri Harmandir Sahib during Operation Sindoor, calling the statements “shockingly untrue” and raising concerns about the motive behind such assertions being made by senior Army officers.

Giani Amarjeet Singh, the additional head granthi of the Golden Temple, said the claim that any permission was granted for the deployment of defence equipment inside the shrine was completely false, and he emphasised that the sanctity of the religious complex had been maintained strictly according to Sikh maryada, even during the city-wide blackout observed from May 7 to 10, The Wire reported.

He clarified that while the district administration had requested a temporary blackout, only the outer and upper lights of the complex were turned off, and no religious or ceremonial lights were switched off.

The SGPC president and advocate, Harjinder Singh Dhami, also rejected the Indian Army’s version, stating that no Army official had contacted the shrine authorities for any form of defence deployment, and no such installation had taken place at the sacred site. He pointed out that devotees were present at all times performing seva during the blackout, and had there been any such deployment, it would have been noticed by the sangat.

Both religious leaders questioned the reason for propagating such a serious claim after the event, especially when the sanctity of the shrine was never compromised and cooperation was given solely to the district administration.

Dhami called the statement by the Army a fabrication that has unnecessarily dragged the central religious place of the Sikhs into a military narrative and demanded a clarification from the Union government over why such misinformation was being presented under the name of national security.

On May 19, Lieutenant General Sumer Ivan D’Cunha of the Army Air Defence had claimed during an interview that the Army had received permission to install defence guns inside the Golden Temple complex and that the shrine’s lights had been switched off to improve drone visibility. He said this allowed the Army to intercept threats aimed at the shrine by Pakistani drones and missiles.

Major General Kartik C. Seshadri had also claimed that the Golden Temple was among the religious sites targeted by Pakistan in its drone and missile attacks, and praised Army air defence personnel for neutralising these threats.

However, Giani Raghbir Singh, the head granthi of the Golden Temple, who was abroad during the operation, stated that no communication had taken place with him and confirmed that no deployment had occurred at Sri Darbar Sahib. He reiterated that no lights at religious sites were switched off and no changes to religious practices were made.

Although BJP leaders lauded the Army’s efforts and condemned Pakistan, the ruling AAP and opposition Congress and SAD have remained silent on the matter.