New Delhi: The Indian Army on Tuesday firmly denied claims that air defence (AD) guns were deployed inside the Golden Temple complex in Amritsar during Operation Sindoor, following heightened tensions with Pakistan. The clarification comes after a senior army officer’s remarks sparked significant controversy and prompted denials from Sikh religious authorities.
In an official statement, the Army said, “Some media reports are circulating with respect to deployment of AD Guns in the Golden Temple. It is clarified that no AD guns or any other AD resource was deployed within the premises of Sri Darbar Sahib Amritsar (The Golden Temple).”
The Controversial Claim
Lieutenant General Sumer Ivan D’Cunha, in-charge of the Indian Army’s air defence, had earlier told news agency ANI that the Head Granthi of the Golden Temple had permitted the deployment of AD guns within the shrine to counter possible drone or missile threats from Pakistan. He also claimed that lights at the temple were switched off during a blackout to aid visibility against aerial threats.
“It was very nice that the Head Granthi of the Golden Temple allowed us to deploy our guns… They switched off the lights so we could see the drones coming,” Lt Gen D’Cunha said, suggesting the shrine was a potential target due to its symbolic value.
Sikh Authorities Refute Claims
The remarks were swiftly and strongly refuted by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), the apex body managing Sikh shrines. SGPC President Harjinder Singh Dhami stated that the temple management was only asked to cooperate during a city-wide blackout, and that no request was made to deploy any military equipment inside the sacred premises.
Harmandar Sahib’s Head Granthi, Giani Raghbir Singh — who was abroad at the time — said he had no knowledge of any such communication and denied granting any permission for weapon deployment. Additional head priest Giani Amarjeet Singh also rejected the army officer’s claim as “shockingly untrue.”
He clarified that while the temple complex cooperated with blackout measures by switching off certain external lights, all religious protocols were strictly followed and the sanctity of the shrine was never compromised.
“All daily rituals, including the Langar of Guru Ramdas Ji and services at Sri Akhand Path Sahib, continued as per established conduct,” Singh added.
Was the Golden Temple Targeted?
During the recent India-Pakistan conflict, Pakistani drones and missiles reportedly attempted to strike key locations in Punjab, including the Golden Temple. These threats were intercepted by Indian air defence systems such as the AKASH missile system and L-70 guns, according to video footage shared by the Army.
However, Pakistan has strongly denied these allegations. In a statement, the Pakistani Foreign Ministry said, “We categorically reject the claims that Pakistan attempted to target the Golden Temple. We respect all places of worship and cannot imagine targeting such a holy site.”
Conclusion
The Army’s clarification and denials by Sikh religious leaders appear to have defused immediate tensions, but the incident has raised concerns over the sensitivity and accuracy of public statements involving revered religious sites and national security.
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