KEY POINTS
- Sikh leader rejects Indian Army’s claims that Pakistan attempted to target Golden Temple
- No permission granted for military deployment in the sacred premises
- No one can even think of attacking the Golden Temple
- Pakistan says India targeted different places of worship in Pakistan
- FO Spokesperson says Pakistan is the proud custodian of many holy sites of the Sikh faith
AMRITSAR: Prominent Sikh religious leader Giani Raghbir Singh, Head Granthi of the Golden Temple, on Tuesday demanded strict action against an Indian Army General who alleged that Pakistan attempted to attack the revered Sikh shrine in Amritsar during the recent Indo-Pak tensions.
While speaking to the media, the Sikh religious leader said that Sri Darbar Sahib is a sacred place where no one can even imagine launching an attack.
He also dismissed the statement by the Indian General who had claimed that there was a threat of a missile and drone attack on Sri Darbar Sahib by Pakistani forces.
Lieutenant General Sumer Ivan D’Cunha, the army’s in-charge of air defence, had claimed that Giani Raghbir Singh had permitted the deployment of air defence guns in the shrine complex during Operation Sindoor against Pakistan.
The statement by Giani Raghbir Singh has badly exposed the Indian false claims of missile attacks by Pakistan on the Golden Temple.
During the recent Indo-Pak tensions, India spread false propaganda to create discord between Pakistan and the Sikh community.
Giani Raghbir Singh said no one is allowed to carry weapons inside Sri Darbar Sahib, and such military deployment at the holy site is unacceptable.
He further noted that the Indian government falsely accused Pakistan of planning a missile attack on the Golden Temple, using this narrative as part of a propaganda campaign to create division between Pakistan and the Sikh community.
The Sikh religious leader described the army’s claims regarding the deployment of air defence guns at the temple as “ridiculous” and urged authorities to take appropriate action against those responsible for spreading false information.
“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,” he said.
He said even if he had been present, he would not have allowed such an action at the Sikh holy site.
“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,” said Giani Raghubir Singh.
He added that the Indian Army had forced the Lieutenant General to give such a false statement to cover up its lies.
Defence experts believe that Giani Raghubir Singh’s statement has exposed India’s attempt to spread false propaganda and turn the Sikh community against Pakistan.
They argue that the efforts of the Indian government and its armed forces to create discord between Sikhs and Pakistan have failed.
According to these experts, Giani Raghubir Singh’s remarks have exposed what they describe as the Indian government’s and military’s misleading narrative.
Pakistan rejects Indian allegations of targeting Golden Temple
Responding to the media queries regarding the remarks made by a senior Indian Army officer that Pakistan attempted to target the Golden Temple through drones and missiles on the intervening night of 7 and 8 May 2025, the spokesperson said, “We categorically reject the allegations that Pakistan attempted to target the Golden Temple, the most revered place in the Sikh faith.
“We hold all places of worship in the highest esteem and cannot think of targeting a holy site like the Golden Temple”, Foreign Office spokesman Shafaqat Ali Khan said in a statement.
The spokesman said, in fact, it was India that targeted different places of worship in Pakistan in the intervening night of 6 and 7 May 2025.
We hold all places of worship in the highest esteem and cannot think of targeting a holy site like the Golden Temple.” – Foreign Office spokesman Shafaqat Ali Khan
The spokesman said allegations levelled by the Indian side cannot shift attention from this unacceptable act.
