Golden Temple attack: Hague to speak on 'SAS link'
Golden Temple attack: UK advice 'had limited impact'
(about 3 hours later)
William Hague is expected to make a Commons statement later on claims that Margaret Thatcher's government was involved in the deadly 1984 raid on a temple in the Indian city of Amritsar.
A UK military officer's advice to Indian authorities had only a "limited impact" on the final plan for the 1984 attack on an Indian temple, MPs heard.
An inquiry began last month after declassified documents suggested an SAS officer helped Indian authorities plan the attack on Sikh militants.
Foreign Secretary William Hague was delivering the findings of a review into claims an SAS officer helped Delhi plan the raid which killed hundreds.
Hundreds died in the storming of the Golden Temple, a holy shrine for Sikhs.
The storming of Amritsar's Golden Temple, a holy shrine for Sikhs, was intended to flush out Sikh separatists.
Foreign Secretary Mr Hague will set out the review's findings in his statement.
Mr Hague said UK assistance was "purely advisory" and given months beforehand.
It will follow the publication of a report on the claims by Cabinet Secretary Sir Jeremy Heywood.
The inquiry was launched last month after declassified documents suggested Britain was involved in planning the raid, called Operation Blue Star.
The review was ordered after Labour MP Tom Watson said documents disclosed under the 30-year rule showed Britain advised Delhi on planning the raid.
The Indian government said about 400 people were killed in the attack, including 87 soldiers. Sikh groups say many hundreds more died.
The scope of the review has drawn criticism from UK Sikh groups who say it is too narrow.
In the 30 years since, Sikhs say they have been seeking justice for lost family members.
'Secret papers'
Delivering his statement, Mr Hague set out the UK's involvement in planning for the raid.
Operation Blue Star, intended to flush out Sikh separatists, outraged Sikhs around the world, who said troops had desecrated the faith's holiest shrine.
He told the Commons that the British government had received an urgent request for help from Indian authorities who wanted to regain control of the temple from Sikh militants.
Afterwards, the Indian government said about 400 people were killed, including 87 soldiers.
In response, a British military adviser was sent to India, and he recommended any attack should be a last resort, MPs heard.
But Sikh groups said many hundreds more died, including a large number of pilgrims visiting the temple.
The adviser also suggested using helicopters and an element of surprise to try to keep casualty numbers low.
The Sikh separatists had been demanding an independent homeland - called Khalistan - in Punjab.
No equipment or training were offered, Mr Hague said, and the attack took place three months later in a situation very different from that in which the advice was offered.
Last month, Mr Watson said he had seen "top secret papers from Mrs Thatcher authorising Special Air Services (SAS) to work with the Indian government", which prompted David Cameron to order a review.
'Indian request'
Mr Watson said a letter dated 6 February 1984 from the prime minister's office talks about the "Indian request for advice on plans for the removal of dissident Sikhs from the Golden Temple".
Another letter, dated 23 February 1984, said "the foreign secretary decided to respond favourably to the Indian request and, with the prime minister's agreement, an SAD officer has visited India and drawn up a plan which has been approved by Mrs Gandhi".
It appears the writer mistakenly referred to the SAS as SAD.
The attack on the temple took place in June 1984.
'Rumour and suspicion'
Last month, the Indian general in charge of the raid dismissed claims that the Thatcher administration advised Delhi.
In October 1984 Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was assassinated by her Sikh bodyguards in what was thought to be a revenge attack.
A month later, more than 3,000 people were killed in anti-Sikh riots across India.
Gurinder Singh Josen, of the Sikh Council UK, said there was dismay in his community that the review would only look at June 1984, and not events that followed, but he was hoping for transparency from the government.
He likened the attack on the Sikhs' holiest place of worship to Italian troops "rolling into the Vatican", and said a lot of people in India and the UK were still seeking justice for lost family members.
Conservative Paul Uppal, the UK's only Sikh MP, said he had been "heartened" by the swiftness of the inquiry.
"For 30 years, we have had to deal with rumour, speculation and suspicion", he said, but now he hoped to find out what went on, what advice was given and whether it differed from the final strategy of the Indian authorities.
