Political experts are linking Nishikant Dubey’s statement to the BJP’s strategy of trying to curry favor with the sentiments of the Sikh community by defaming the Congress on Sikh issues. Sikh Genocide The Sikh community considers the military attack on Sri Darbar Sahib in 1984 as a cruel and sensitive incident, in which thousands of Sikhs lost their lives and Sri Akal Takht Sahib was also heavily damaged. In such a situation, the BJP’s claim that the Congress raised Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale and carried out this attack with the help of the British army has caused a sharp reaction in the Sikh community. The issue of convicting Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale is also being considered a part of BJP’s politics. Sant Bhindranwale is considered a Sikh general and leader in the Sikh community, who raised the rights of Sikhs in Punjab and the demands of the Anandpur Sahib resolution.
The BJP’s claim that Congress gave birth to Sant Bhindranwale played a role in creating a tragedy for the Sikh community. Political experts say that by raising this issue, the BJP is trying to hit two targets with one arrow: first, it wants to cause political damage to the Congress by calling it anti-Sikh, and second, it wants to strengthen its political ground in Punjab by appealing to the sentiments of the Sikh community.
But the question also arises that why the BJP government, which has been in power at the Centre since 2014, has not ordered an inquiry into the Sikh massacre of June 84? Panthic organisations of the Sikh community say that this statement by the BJP is only an attempt to gain political advantage, and not genuine sympathy for the Sikhs.
Sikh Federation (UK) representative Bhai Amrik Singh Gill said that these allegations by the BJP are a conspiracy to defame the Congress. If they are really in favor of the Sikhs, then the Modi government should conduct an independent investigation into the Sikh massacre of June and November 1984.”
Panthic organizations have termed Nishikant Dubey’s statement as anti-Sikh and provocative. Sikh Federation (India) President Gurmeet Singh said that BJP’s blaming Sant Bhindranwale and blaming Congress is just a political game. The Sikh massacre of June 84 is a deep wound in the hearts of Sikhs. Instead of bringing out the truth of it, BJP is using it as a political weapon.”
Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) also strongly condemned this statement and demanded that the Modi government conduct an independent investigation into the Sikh massacre of June 84. They said that there is nothing new in the BJP’s allegations. In 2014, it was also revealed in the documents of the British government that India had sought British help. But the question is, why has the Modi government not been able to conduct an investigation into this issue in 11 years?
Panthic organizations also say that blaming Sant Bhindranwale is a conspiracy to hurt Sikh sentiments. They believe that Sant Bhindranwale was a symbol of the Sikh struggle, and an attempt is being made to hurt the Sikh Panth by defaming him.
Why is the Labour government ignoring the demand for an investigation into the British role in the Sikh massacre of June 84?
There is growing resentment among the Sikh community over the British Labour government’s continued ignoring of the demand for an independent investigation into the British role in the Sikh massacre of June 84. In 2014, documents released by the British government revealed that India’s then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi had sought military help from British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. According to these documents, in November 1983, the British intelligence agency MI6 officials had a conversation with the head of the Indian Intelligence Department. In February 1984, two senior British Army officers had inspected the Sri Darbar Sahib and advised that Sant Bhindranwale should be arrested by a surprise attack by helicopters, which would reduce the loss of life. But this advice was not heeded.
The Sikh community believes that the British government did not make many important documents public and even removed some later. Bhai Amrik Singh Gill of the Sikh Federation (UK) said, “The Labour government had supported the demand for an investigation of the Sikhs before the elections, but now after coming to power they are silent. This is a betrayal of the Sikhs.”
Sikh MPs in the British Parliament, such as Tanmanjit Singh Dhesi, Preet Kaur Gill, Jasbir Singh Athwal and Virender Jas, have also repeatedly raised this demand. The Labour Party had also promised this inquiry in its election manifesto, but despite a two-month ultimatum given by the Sikh community in April 2025, no progress has been made.
So far, no concrete results have been revealed regarding the investigation into the British role in Operation Blue Star. The review conducted by the British government in 2014 on the orders of former Prime Minister David Cameron also shared only limited information, which the Sikh community had described as insufficient. The Sikh community believes that an independent and impartial inquiry is necessary to bring out the full truth about Operation Blue Star and the November 1984 Sikh massacre.
Questions are also being raised on the Modi government as to why it has not ordered an inquiry into this issue despite 11 years in power. Panthic organizations say that the BJP only raises this issue for political gain, but has no desire to bring out the truth. Gurmeet Singh of the Sikh Federation said, “If the Modi government is in favor of the Sikhs, then they should conduct an international investigation into the Sikh pogroms of June 84 and the November 1984 massacre. The Sikh community has the right to know the truth.”
The issue of the Sikh pogroms of June 84 and the British role in itThe incident is highly sensitive for the Sikh community. Nishikant Dubey’s statement has brought this issue back into the spotlight, but the Sikh community believes that this is just a political game. The silence of the British Labour government and the Modi government’s policy of not conducting an investigation have dashed the hopes of the Sikh community. Sikh community organizations demand that the full truth of this incident be revealed so that the Sikh community can get justice.
