Sikhs in UK protest against Indian government

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Sikhs in UK protest against Indian government

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Sikhs staged a protest in London to mark 28th anniversary of India's 1984 Operation Blue Star.

11 June,2012 07:30 am

Hundreds of activists and members of Sikh community staged a huge rally at London on Sunday as a mark of protest against the Indias infamous 1984 Operation Blue Star.Operation Blue Star was a military offensive carried out by the Indian Army from June 03 to June 06, 1984 aimed at flushing out Sikh separatists from the complex of the revered Golden Temple shrine in the Amritsar city of Indias northern Punjab state.The brazen storming of the Golden Temple-widely considered as the Sikh religions holiest shrine--deeply hurt the communitys sentiments.Demanding justice for the slain Sikh separatists, the activists shouted fiery slogans in the peaceful protest aimed at garnering mass support for the cause, which finds significant resonance among Sikhs in India as well.Hundreds of activists and community members from across the United Kingdom gathered in Londons Hyde Park to pay homage to the Sikh separatists slain in the offensive.Our appeal is for justice (in the 1984 Operation Blue Star case). Members of the Sikh community from all age groups and backgrounds have gathered here to make an appeal, because the government of India is not listening to us, said a woman Sikh activist, Harbhajan Kaur.Sikh separatists spearheaded a campaign for the formation of an independent Sikh state and its activities were at a peak during late 1970s and early1980s when terrorism in northern Punjab state was at its zenith.Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, a dreaded militant worshipped by many as a martyr was one of the main architects of militancy in Punjab, which saw nearly 3,000 people lose their lives to regular bombing of buses and markets.