UK Sikh groups demand inquiry into British role in 1984 Golden Temple attack

Sikh groups in the UK have called for a full inquiry into alleged British involvement in the deadly 1984 Indian military attack on the Golden Temple in Amritsar. In an open letter to Prime Minister David Cameron, backed by the Sikh Federation UK and the British Sikh Council, campaigners argued there were 'too many serious questions that remain unanswered' on the claims made by the UK government.

The move comes after newly released documents appeared to show the SAS was involved in planning the attack.

The Sikh Federation's Dabinderjit Singh said Foreign Secretary William Hague had misled Parliament about the raid.

According to the BBC, Prime Minister David Cameron had commissioned cabinet secretary Sir Jeremy Heywood in January to investigate claims of British involvement in the raid.

Hague presented its findings to Parliament, which confirmed that the Indian Government had sought advice from an SAS officer on the best possible way to storm the temple.

The officer said a raid should only be the last resort and suggested helicopters could be used as part of a strategy to minimise casualties, Jeremy said.

According to the report, Hague told MPs that the Indian government's campaign had 'differed from the approach recommended', partly because there had been no 'helicopter-borne element'.

Singh however said that every single book, on the subject, reveals that helicopter gunships were used on the 4, 5, and 6 June 1984.

Singh added that the report was misleading, and not truthful.

The inquiry was launched last month after declassified documents suggested Margaret Thatcher's government was involved in planning the raid, called Operation Blue Star, the report added.