UK Opposition Makes Operation Blue Star Probe Election Pledge

Corbyn’s Labour party has pledged in its manifesto to independently inquire into the UK’s Operation Blue Star link.

Jeremy Corbyn, Britain’s Opposition leader, stated in his party manifesto ahead of the elections, that his party would independently inquire into the UK’s role in Operation Blue Star. (Photo Courtesy: Owen Humphreys / AP)

Britain's Opposition Labour party has included the demand by some British Sikh groups for an independent inquiry into the UK's alleged involvement in the Operation Blue Star in 1984 as a manifesto pledge.

The manifesto for the 8 June general election, released by party leader Jeremy Corbyn on Wednesday, also makes a reference to working towards political negotiations in Kashmir. The “Diplomacy”section of the manifesto states:

Labour remains committed to an independent inquiry into Britain’s military role in the 1984 raid on the Golden Temple in Amritsar. A Labour government will immediately recognise the state of Palestine. We will also urge negotiations towards a political resolution in all other regions currently experiencing conflict, including Kashmir, Libya, Nigeria, Sudan, South Sudan, Somalia and Yemen, and give our strong support to those countries already working to end decades of division, including Colombia, Cyprus and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The Sikh Federation UK, which has been lobbying for a public inquiry into Britain's alleged involvement in the military action on Golden Temple in 1984, welcomed the party's stand on the issue.

We are delighted with the commitment shown by the Labour Party by making the pledge of an independent public inquiry in the manifesto. This puts real pressure on the Conservatives to revisit the issue and acknowledge the need for a fresh independent investigation. We will be increasing legal pressure before 8 June and the British government will want to avoid the truth being dragged out in the courts.

Bhai Amrik Singh, the chairman of the Sikh Federation UK to PTI

The group had made a written submission to the Labour party earlier in 2017 on the issue.

Corbyn had then written to British Prime Minister Theresa May calling for a "fresh, independent investigation" into Britain's exact role in the Indian Army operation on Golden Temple in 1984.

Corbyn's letter to Downing Street, dated 4 January , read:

Given concerns regarding the effectiveness and integrity of the January 2014 review, I believe we must consider a fresh, independent investigation into this episode in British history. It is clear to me from my discussions with Sikh groups in the UK that there remains significant resentment over 30 years since this appalling event, questions remain about the role which the United Kingdom played.

In 2014, then Prime Minister David Cameron had ordered the Heywood Review into the exact nature of British involvement, after documents released previously under the 30-year declassification rule had implied British SAS commanders had advised the Indian government as it drew up plans for the removal of militants from the Sikh shrine.

The report concluded that the nature of the UK's assistance was "purely advisory" and provided to the Indian government at an early stage of planning.

The Sikh Federation UK has since been pursuing the matter with the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), and await a hearing on its Freedom of Information request for four Cabinet Office files they believe contain more details on the exact nature of Britain's alleged involvement in Operation Blue Star.