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UK Judge Orders Operation Blue Star Related Files To Be Made Public Judge Murray Shanks, who presided over a three-day hearing of the First Tier Tribunal (Information Rights) in London in March, ruled yesterday that a majority of the files relating to the period must be made public. All India | Press Trust of India | Updated: June 13, 2018 03:23 IST The files that must now be released include papers on UK-India relations from 1983 to 1985. (File) London: A UK judge has ordered the declassification of documents that are expected to shed further light on Britain's involvement in Operation Blue Star in 1984, dismissing the British government's argument that the move could damage diplomatic ties with India. Judge Murray Shanks, who presided over a three-day hearing of the First Tier Tribunal (Information Rights) in London in March, ruled yesterday that a majority of the files relating to the period must be made public and rejected the UK government's argument that declassifying the Downing Street papers would damage diplomatic ties with India. The judge, however, did accept that one file marked "India: Political", from the UK's Joint Intelligence Committee (JIC), could contain information that relates to British spy agencies MI5, MI6 and GCHQ (Government Communications Headquarters) and therefore the Cabinet Office was entitled to rely on a technicality that exempts such material from the Freedom of Information (FOI) request appeal. "We recognise that the period we are concerned with was a highly sensitive one in India's recent history and the strength of feeling it continues to evoke... it should also be remembered that the fact that 30 years has gone by is bound to have reduced any prejudice that may have resulted from release of the withheld material," the judgment notes. The FOI appeal was handled by KRW Law on behalf of freelance journalist Phil Miller, who has been investigating the exact nature of the then Margaret Thatcher led government's assistance to the Indian Army operation on Golden Temple in Amritsar. In 2014, UK government documents declassified under the 30-year rule to make such material public had revealed that British military advice was given to Indian forces prior to Operation Blue Star. Then British Prime Minister David Cameron had ordered a review into this discovery, named as the Heywood Review, which led to a statement in Parliament declaring that Britain's role had been purely "advisory" and the advice provided by the country's Special Air Service (SAS) had "limited impact in practice". But Miller, the author of 'Sacrificing Sikhs: The need for an investigation' report released last year, says only "full transparency" would reveal the exact nature of Britain's involvement. "After nearly four years of asking for disclosure of these files, it is a great victory for a judge to rule that more transparency would not harm diplomatic ties or risk national security," said Miller, who is disappointed that one file has been left out due to a "loophole" relating to the country's intelligence agencies. "It is no wonder that many in the Sikh community are calling for a public inquiry, as only that would have the power to disclose all relevant material," he added. The files that must now be released in full include papers on UK-India relations from 1983 to 1985 - covering a meeting between Thatcher and Indira Gandhi's advisor, LK Jha, the situation in Punjab, Sikh activities and the assassination of Mrs Gandhi in October 1984. Judge Shanks dismissed the UK government's claim that declassifying these papers would harm relations with India and said "it is worth noting that we have heard no evidence of any adverse reaction from the Indian government resulting from the events of January and February 2014", referring to the Heywood Review. The UK Cabinet Office has been given time until July 11 to appeal against the First Tier Tribunal's decision. Alternatively, it must make the relevant documents available to Miller for his research by July 12. The Cabinet Office said it would be issue its response in due course. https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/uk-judge-orders-operation-blue-star-related-files-to-be-made-public-1866537

Read this, speaks of Thatcher's fears for Asians in the UK demanding separation. She specifically mentions Sikhs of Southall. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2888071/Maggie-feared-deal-Irish-fuel-Asian-tensions-Secret-files-late-PM-fretted-appeasing-nationalists-case-triggered-demands-ethnic-minorities.html

When the revelations of operation sundown came out recently in an Indian magazine by 1 Indian journalist it seemed to collaborate with what the amritsar massacre inquiry report conducted by the current british government had concluded when published later on. What we need to know is this a fake story a fake operation put into the Indian and worldwide press to divert the real role of the UK thatcher government in 1984? Because this operation sundown story broke before the report was published and the Sikh federation along with other Sikh organisations and Tom watson MP had asked the govt to clarify what they knew of operation sundown. So did the current british govt and indian govt collaborate and come up with a fictitious "operation sundown" out of thin air to make their role seem insignificant and only advisory. What was clear from the report that an SAS person had visited the sri harmandir sahib in feb 1984 for recconersince and was able to walk around the complex unhindered or attacked by supposed "sikh terrorists" , "sikh extremists", "sikh dissidents" as they were then labelled. We know for sure that thousands of pilgrims of all religions and walks of lives were freely coming and going out of the temple. So what need was an SAS or any other special forces person to decide to attack our most holiest shrine even for only a limited commando strike to take out alleged extremists. It is not the role of the UK govt to decide or interfer in the religious or political affairs of the Sikhs of Punjab. It is not in the remit or right of the UK government to behave in such a manor. Sant bhindranwale was an elected head of damdami taksal one of the most respected institutions of Sikhism to plan an attack or abduct him is declaration of war against the Sikh faith....So thats one point against the UK govt. Another point is why was relentless gunfire directed at sri harmandir sahib just before the SAS agent was about to leave? There are reports in articles that there was gunfire directed at people in the darbar sahib complex from outside. This shows they were trying to test the resistance and draw return fire to test the capabilities of the so called "sikh dissidents" no return fire was offered. So thats another point against the UK govt. We learnt an important document was destroyed in 2009 by the UK ministry of defence (MOD) under the watch of the then labour party government. What we need to know is under whose authoritisation was this done, and why was such an important file destroyed when no file should ever be destroyed that contains such highly sensitive information about the role of the armed forces of UK government. Was the file destroyed recently under duress from the now government and made to look like it was destroyed in 2009? What did that file and documents contain? Alot of questions need to be answered and research, investigations an analysis done by everyone. If anyone has any further information or questions to add please feel free.