London, UK (KP) – Thousands of Sikhs across the globe marked the 27th anniversary of the storming of Sri Darbar Sahib and 37 Sikh Gurdwaras by the Indian armed forces in June of 1984. The military assault, dubbed as “Operation Blue Star”, slaughtered thousands of Sikh men women and children and left Sri Akal Takht Sahib in ruins. Commemoration rallies and programs were held across India, including Sri Akal Takht Sahib, Amritsar, as well as in UK, Germany, Australia, Canada, and the United States.
About 25,000 Sikhs gathered in London’s Trafalgar Square to mark an attack on their holiest shrine. The Sikhs, hailing from UK and various parts of Europe, marched from Hyde Park to Trafalgar Square. Banners and signs in support of right to self-determination and an independent Sikh Homeland were visible throughout the impressive march.
Speakers at Trafalgar Square included the Delhi based Sikh journalist Jarnail Singh, who lobbed a shoe at the Indian home minister Palaniappan Chidambaram in 2009. Liberal Democrat MP Simon Hughes also spoke at the London rally.
The 1984 attack on the Sri Darbar Sahib Complex was ordered by the Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, who was later killed her own tow Sikh bodyguards in retaliation. Following Gandhi’s death, anti-Sikh pogroms were organized by the Congress Party in Delhi and across other parts of India – resulting in the death of more than ten-thousand Sikhs in November 1984.
Khalsa raj zindabad
Excelent speech by Jarnail Singh. England Sikhs have done wonderful work.
Mind blowing gathering. Lets pressurize the government.
Ab manzil door nahi.
Keep trying faujon