Head Granthi Refutes Army’s Claim on Air Defence Guns at Golden Temple

Golden Temple: The head Granthi at the Golden Temple in Punjab's Amritsar has refuted a top Army officer's claim that Air Defence guns were deployed at the temple.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, Sri Harmandar Sahib’s Head Granthi, Giani Raghbir Singh, clarified that although he was on an international visit during the Army operation, there was no communication with him regarding any gun deployment, nor did any such incident occur at Sri Darbar Sahib. He described the Army officer’s statement as "shockingly untrue".

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In an exclusive interview with ANI on Monday, Lieutenant General D’Cunha had said, “It was very nice that the head granthi of the Golden Temple allowed us to deploy our guns.” He said the unprecedented cooperation from the Golden Temple authorities came after they were briefed on the gravity of the threat, following which Indian Army guns were deployed. Prior to him, Major General Kartik C Seshadri, the general officer commanding (GOC), 15 Infantry Division, said that Golden Temple was targeted by Pakistan forces with missiles and drones and India’s air defence system had successfully intercepted and destroyed them to protect the shrine.

Terming the statements “propaganda”, Giani Raghbir Singh said, “I was not contacted by any army officer. There was no communication on any gun deployment, nor did any such incident occur at Sri Darbar Sahib. I was on leave in the US for 22 days. I went on April 24 and returned on May 14. The conflict started after I left and ended before I returned. The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee should probe the army’s claims and take departmental action if any SGPC member is found involved in this matter.”

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Giani Raghbir Singh, who is a former Akal Takht jathedar, said: “The SGPC cooperated with the government in implementing the blackout at Sri Harmandar Sahib, but such claims (by the generals) are shockingly untrue.”

Additional head granthi Giani Amarjit Singh, who was filling in for Giani Raghbir Singh, explained in an official statement from the SGPC that the management of Sri Harmandar Sahib had complied with the district administration's instructions regarding the blackout by turning off the complex's exterior lights for the designated amount of time. Nonetheless, the sanctity of the place was preserved and lights were kept on in areas where the maryada (religious code of conduct) is followed.

He reaffirmed that there was no such deployment at the shrine and denied giving the army any permission. He claimed that the religious code of conduct was observed in spite of the border tension.

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