Chandigarh, December 1, 2014: Presenting the agony of the Sikh community on the issue of conferring gallantry awards to the army personnel for Blue Star Operation-1984, Member of Parliament, Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa today in a high pitched letter to the Defence Minister of India has urged to immediately withdraw such gallantry awards.
The actual transcript of the letter reads like this:
"I want to bring to your kind notice with heavy heart and agony that in 1984 Government of India sent Indian Army to attack Golden temple Complex in Amritsar. This was the first such incident where country’s own army went into the highest spiritual seat of a community.
There was all round condemnation of this act. I want to raise the issue that the defence ministry after the assault on the temple where hundreds of innocent Sikhs were killed, gave gallantry awards to more than 10 army personnel. These gallantry awards were for so called “ victory” over the ‘ enemy’ . I fail to understand that the Governement of India equated this operation with a victory over any war against outside enemy country. Such awards were given during indo-chinese war and indo-pak wars. I am thankful to the present government which has shown great sympathy with the victims who suffered in 1984. I request you to officially withdraw the gallantry awards given to the army personnel on account of Blue Star Operation of 1984. I feel this action of government of giving awards was putting salt on the wounds of the Sikh community. I also request that any other army award given in this operation to any other army unit be also withdrawn.
I request you to kindly consider to withdraw the gallantry awards on account of Blue star Operation of 1984 to provide some satisfaction to the aggrieved Sikh community."
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Date:
Monday, December 1, 2014