Tom Watson is a Labour MP from West Bromwich East and has asked UK government to explain declassified documents that suggest Margaret Thatcher's administration offered Indira Gandhi help in planning military raid at Golden Temple in 1984.The revelation that Mrs Thatcher secretly authorised the SAS to provide planning advice to the government of Indira Gandhi, in relation to the military action at Amritsar, has shocked many British citizens of Indian origin.
We do not know the extent of the support nor the logic behind it but a wider reading of the files, recently released by the British government, shines some light on the nature of top level discussions at the time.
It appears to me that the Thatcher government wanted to sell military equipment to the Gandhi administration.
The authorisation for SAS support was made in February 1984. Two months before this, a file note from 10 Downing Street to the Ministry of Defence reports on a top level discussion about the provision of military equipment to India. Mr Venkataraman, the then Indian Defence Minister held a "friendly and relaxed" meeting with Mrs Thatcher in Downing Street. Mrs Thatcher was to meet Indira Gandhi later that month in Delhi at the Commonwealth Heads of State meeting.
Could it be that Mrs Thatcher's eagerness to seal a defence equipment deal led to the decision to authorise SAS planning support for the military action in Amritsar?
One thing is certain: the truth needs to come out. It is beholden on another Conservative Prime Minister, David Cameron, to give a full explanation to Sikhs around the world, just exactly what Mrs Thatcher's government helped secretly plan and support.
The file note from 10 Downing Street:Disclaimer: The opinions expressed within this blog are the personal opinions of the author. NDTV is not responsible for the accuracy, completeness, suitability, or validity of any information on this article. All information is provided on an as-is basis. The information, facts or opinions appearing in the article do not reflect the views of NDTV and NDTV does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.