Amritsar,
Punjab (January 15, 2014): It is learnt that former R&AW officer B
Raman who headed the so-called Sikh Extremists’ Division has also
revealed in his book that officers of the British Security Service
(MI-5) visited the Darbar Sahib, Amritsar (Golden Temple) to assess the
ground situation before giving their advice to then Indian PM Indira
Gandhi.
B. Raman, who authored the book, “The
Kaoboys of R&AW” published in 2007 has revealed in his chapter “The
Khalistani Terrorism” (Page 96) that on the request of R N Kao the then
special adviser to Indian Prime Minister, the two officers of the
British Security Service (MI-5) visited the Darbar Sahib as tourists and
gave their advice to Indira Gandhi.
The revelations by British MP Tom Watson
on the basis of the top-secret documents founded at British National
Archives, which have now been made public has reinforced the disclosure
made by former R&AW official.
Title page of book Kaoboys of R&AW
Making disclosures about B. Raman’s book
Dal Khalsa spokesperson Kanwar Pal Singh said ”One thing is now clear
that British govt was engaged and their advise was sought and the latter
did obliged. However, there is a grey area as to what they had advised
and whether that advised was taken into account or just ignored by
Indira Gandhi. All these puzzling questions needs crystal clear
answers”.
Kanwar Pal Singh said while the British
document is silent as to the advice given to the Indian government, the
ex-R&AW officer has stated that British officers advised PM to be
patient and avoid (army) action or use the police for it”. Raman has
further said that even his boss Kao felt that it would be better to be
patient instead of taking any precipitate action, which might prove
counter-productive.
He reiterated that British PM David
Cameron should clear the mess as the disclosure has shattered the Sikh
Diaspora and they have felt backstabbed by the UK.
Kanwar Pal Singh is of the view that
Raman’s revelations had nailed Indian government lies that the operation
Bluestar became necessity as there were intelligence reports that
“Pakistan forces were going to infiltrate in Punjab to help Sikh
insurgents”.
Quoting from the book, he said, Raman
had categorically stated that not a single Pakistani army
mercenary-serving or retired- was found inside the temple. “The reports
of the intelligence agencies in this regard were found to have been
wrong”.
Dal Khalsa activist also took a dig at
Gen (retd) K S Brar, who has denied any such advice from the foreign
agency. He said Brar was issuing misleading statements as he was
comparatively a low ranking official who were generally not taken into
confidence while formulating such plans at highest level of the
Government. He said Brar was chosen by Army top leadership only to
operationalize the plan.