New Delhi: No air defense system or any other air defense resource was deployed in the Golden Temple complex during 'Operation Sindoor'. The Army gave this information on Tuesday. This statement comes in the wake of reports that the Golden Temple management had allowed the Army to deploy air defense system within the complex to deal with possible drone and missile threats from Pakistan.
The Army said in a statement, 'Some reports are circulating in the media regarding the deployment of air defense system in the Golden Temple. It is clarified that no air defence system or any other air defence resource was deployed in the premises of Sri Darbar Sahib Amritsar (Golden Temple).' Earlier, refuting the reports, the Additional Chief Granthi of the Golden Temple and the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), the apex religious body of the Sikhs, said that the Indian Army was not given permission to deploy any air defence system.
SGPC President Harjinder Singh Dhami also said that although the administration had approached them only about switching off the lights during the 'blackout' following the recent escalation of tension between India and Pakistan, and they had fully cooperated in the interest of administrative responsibility while maintaining the sanctity of 'maryaada'. Dhami said that there was no contact from any military officer regarding the deployment of air defence system at Sri Harmandar Sahib.
'...nor did any such incident take place in the Golden Temple'
Gyani Raghbir Singh, the head granthi of Sri Harmandar Sahib, also clarified that although he was on a foreign visit during Operation Sindoor, there was no discussion with him regarding the deployment of the air defence system and no such incident took place in the Golden Temple. Giani Amarjit Singh, the additional head granthi of the Golden Temple, said it was not true that the Army was allowed to deploy the air defence system inside the Golden Temple to deal with potential drone and missile threats from Pakistan. Singh said the claim was completely false. He said no permission was ever given to install the system.
Was there a 'blackout'?
Singh clarified that the management of Harmandar Sahib had followed the district administration's guidelines regarding a 'blackout' in the city by switching off the outer and overhead lights of the complex within the stipulated time frame. He said, however, at places where religious code of conduct is followed, lights were kept on and the sanctity of the religious place was maintained with full responsibility. What else was said-
Singh reiterated that the daily religious practices at Sri Darbar Sahib (Golden Temple), Guru Ramdas Ji's langar, Sri Akhand Path Sahib's place and other related gurdwaras are conducted according to strict standard rules and no one has the right to interfere in them.
He said that despite the tense situation in recent days, the full religious code of conduct continued to be followed at Harmandar Sahib with dedication and discipline. Singh also clarified that even during the 'blackout', lights were not switched off at any religious place where 'maryada' was being followed.
SGPC chief Dhami said that only external lights were switched off following the guidelines of the district administration based on consultation with Singh. He told that even during the 'blackout', a large number of devotees kept coming and performing seva and if any incident like deployment of air defense system had happened, the Sangat would have definitely taken note of it.
Dhami acknowledged the commendable role played by the army and the country during the tense situation, but stressed that 'spreading such false things about the major religious place of the Sikhs a few days after the incident is shockingly untrue.' He also demanded an explanation from the government.
