News Reports
This archive provides an important historical record of international media reporting of the events of 1984. No foreign or independent journalists were allowed into Punjab for over a month and those already in the State prior to Operation Blue Star were expelled. Most of the news accounts from Punjab were provided to journalists by the Indian government and hence provide for the most part a one-sided view of events. Very few independent news reports telling a different story from the government position were ever reported.
A classic example of strategic misinformation can be found in an article reporting that huge quantities of heroin and drugs had been recovered within the Golden Temple Complex and that they had been used by the militants to illegally fund their operations. This story was picked up internationally based on a June 14th Press Trust of India news report from government sources. One week later the initial report was officially retracted by the government and it was revealed that the drugs had been recovered from the India-Pakistan border and not from the Golden Temple Complex. This retraction was not picked up by most international news agencies and the damage done by the initial news story was never undone.
The anguish and rage felt by the international Sikh community is captured in many news reports about mass demonstrations and individual expressions of anger. Irrespective of their past feelings or political affiliations prior to Operation Blue Star, the vast majority were now united in calling for the creation of 'Khalistan', an independent Sikh country as they no longer wished to be part of India. Only a small minority supported the Indian government. One such example being an article about a 10 year old Canadian Sikh girl's letter to Prime Minister Indira Gandhi professing support for her government and discounting Sikh grievances that was effectively used by the Indian Prime Minister for propaganda purposes.
A protest march in Amritsar by a group of elderly Sikh women nearly a month and a half after Operation Blue Star to try to force the Indian government to leave the temple complex provides a rare example of individual courage in the face of express and implied intimidation by authorities.
A hint of the decade long darkness that was to descend on Punjab as the Indian army and police began a new phase of arbitrary arrests, torture and killing can be seen taking shape in the months following Operation Blue Star.
One of the earliest official government of India's accounting of events is an important part of the exhibit. This rare document presents a detailing of events and opinions according to the Indian government and was released on June 15th, one month before the release of their White Paper.
Magazines
Nov. 7, 1983 Time City of Death
June 18, 1984 Newsweek The Golden Temple Shoot-Out
June 18, 1984 Time Slaughter at the Golden Temple
June 25, 1984 Time Diamonds and the Smell of Death
July 2, 1984 Time The Roots of Violence
Newspapers
April 4, 1984 Globe and Mail Terror threatens economic gains of Indian state
April 5, 1984 Globe and Mail Politicians warned as Sikh terror continues
June 6, 1984 Toronto Star Army storms Sikh shrine in Punjab
June 6, 1984 Toronto Star There's a time for fighting Sikh guru said 300 years ago
June 6, 1984 Toronto Star Vancouver Sikhs protest at consulate
June 7, 1984 Globe and Mail 250 militants die as troops storm temple
June 7, 1984 Toronto Star Violence flares across India as Sikh leader dies in battle
June 7, 1984 Toronto Star Radicals' claims sparked ****** Sikh temple raid
June 7, 1984 Toronto Star We smile, never weep, besieged rebel said
June 7, 1984 Toronto Star Man charged in attack on Indian consulate
June 8, 1984 Toronto Sun Sikhs protest raid on holy temple
June 8, 1984 Globe and Mail 27 die, scores hurt in riots over assault on Golden Temple
June 8, 1984 Globe and Mail After the raid
June 8, 1984 Globe and Mail Toronto Sikhs scream for Gandhi's blood
June 8, 1984 Toronto Star 47 die as Sikhs avenge army invasion of temple
June 8, 1984 Toronto Star Death of militant may help Gandhi experts say
June 8, 1984 Toronto Star Ontario Sikhs gather to protest India's storming of holy temple
June 8, 1984 Toronto Sun Angry Sikhs condemn raid on holy shrine
June 8, 1984 Globe and Mail Smashing pictures was symbolic act, accused man says
June 9, 1984 Globe and Mail Sikh snipers still holding out as toll from temple raid rises
June 9, 1984 Globe and Mail Violence obscures Sikhs origin
June 10, 1984 Toronto Sun Religious violence kills six
June 10, 1984 Toronto Sun India faces all-out war, Sikh warns
June 11, 1984 Globe and Mail Death toll at temple 1,000 as India plans special force
June 11, 1984 Globe and Mail Sikhs march in London, threaten to kill Gandhi
June 11, 1984 Toronto Sun They're burning mad
June 11, 1984 Globe and Mail Sikhs protest across Canada
June 11, 1984 Toronto Sun Sikhs vow to avenge killings
June 11, 1984 Toronto Sun Mutiny by Sikhs in Indian army
June 12, 1984 Globe and Mail Death toll at Sikh temple may be as high as 2,000
June 12, 1984 Globe and Mail Bhindranwale: voice of rage leaves India a time bomb
June 13, 1984 Globe and Mail Sikh mutineers will be hanged, general says
June 14, 1984 Globe and Mail Sikh captives reported shot after battle
June 15, 1984 Globe and Mail Drugs reported found in Sikh temple
June 17, 1984 Toronto Star I had to stop Sikh threat Gandhi tells Prairie girl
June 17, 1984 Toronto Star Militant Sikhs kill Indian official
June 17, 1984 Toronto Sun Member of Gandhi party gunned down
June 17, 1984 Toronto Sun Sikhs form gov’t-in-exile
June 18, 1984 Globe and Mail Provisional government calls for sanctions against India
June 18, 1984 Globe and Mail Sikh protesters say that Turner is sympathetic to their views
June 18, 1984 Globe and Mail Sikhs, Moslems join in Toronto protest over Indian strife
June 18, 1984 Globe and Mail Sikhs rally in protest as President of India makes plea for unity
June 19, 1984 Globe and Mail Sikh militants freed by army; troops prepare to quit Punjab
June 20, 1984 Globe and Mail Fear of Sikh extremists prompts tight security
June 21, 1984 Globe and Mail Arrest toll hits 4,200 as roundup of Sikhs continues in Punjab
June 22, 1984 Globe and Mail Sikh temples reopened as military eases grip
June 22, 1984 Globe and Mail Temple inquiry needed
June 24, 1984 New York Times Mrs. Gandhi Visits Captured Temple
June 25, 1984 Toronto Star The two faces of Punjab terror
June 26, 1984 Toronto Sun Amritsar shrine reopened
June 27, 1984 Globe and Mail Golden Temple closed 1 day after reopening
June 28, 1984 Globe and Mail Sikh shrine reopened to pilgrims in Amritsar
July 6, 1984 Globe and Mail Hijackers threaten passengers
July 7, 1984 Toronto Star Sikh hijacking started 'emotional roller-coaster'
July 9, 1984 Globe and Mail Sikh party plans to send suicide squads to shrine
July 11, 1984 Globe and Mail Overseas Sikhs cited in report on violence
July 16, 1984 Toronto Star India police vow to stop 'suicide march' on Sikh temple
July 16, 1984 Toronto Sun Women 'suicide marching'
July 17, 1984 Globe and Mail 125 Sikhs arrested on march
July 19, 1984 Globe and Mail Angry Sikhs attack envoy in Winnipeg
July 19, 1984 Toronto Sun Winnipeg Sikhs rush India's envoy
July 22, 1984 Toronto Star Sikhs vanish in Indian crackdown
July 23, 1984 Globe and Mail Sikhs to avenge temple attack
July 23, 1984 Toronto Sun Head priests expel Sikh warrior chief
July 30, 1984 Toronto Sun Troops quell clashes in India
August 16, 1984 Toronto Sun Protest triggers violence
August 16, 1984 Globe and Mail Sikh Demonstration
August 16, 1984 Globe and Mail Sikh protest disrupts ceremony
August 16, 1984 Toronto Sun 12 arrested as Sikhs battle cops
August 16, 1984 Toronto Sun Mobs ruin Indira's party
August 16, 1984 Toronto Sun Sikh demonstrators clash with B.C. cops
August 25, 1984 Globe and Mail Hijackers head out of Karachi
August 25, 1984 Globe and Mail Charges against Sikh are dropped as Indian envoy refuses to testify
August 26, 1984 Toronto Star Sikh hijackers free hostages
Official Indian Government Account
June 15, 1984 India News High Commission of India newsletter Contact Sikhmuseum.com ©2009 • Copyright Policy
This archive provides an important historical record of international media reporting of the events of 1984. No foreign or independent journalists were allowed into Punjab for over a month and those already in the State prior to Operation Blue Star were expelled. Most of the news accounts from Punjab were provided to journalists by the Indian government and hence provide for the most part a one-sided view of events. Very few independent news reports telling a different story from the government position were ever reported.A classic example of strategic misinformation can be found in an article reporting that huge quantities of heroin and drugs had been recovered within the Golden Temple Complex and that they had been used by the militants to illegally fund their operations. This story was picked up internationally based on a June 14th Press Trust of India news report from government sources. One week later the initial report was officially retracted by the government and it was revealed that the drugs had been recovered from the India-Pakistan border and not from the Golden Temple Complex. This retraction was not picked up by most international news agencies and the damage done by the initial news story was never undone.
The anguish and rage felt by the international Sikh community is captured in many news reports about mass demonstrations and individual expressions of anger. Irrespective of their past feelings or political affiliations prior to Operation Blue Star, the vast majority were now united in calling for the creation of 'Khalistan', an independent Sikh country as they no longer wished to be part of India. Only a small minority supported the Indian government. One such example being an article about a 10 year old Canadian Sikh girl's letter to Prime Minister Indira Gandhi professing support for her government and discounting Sikh grievances that was effectively used by the Indian Prime Minister for propaganda purposes.
A protest march in Amritsar by a group of elderly Sikh women nearly a month and a half after Operation Blue Star to try to force the Indian government to leave the temple complex provides a rare example of individual courage in the face of express and implied intimidation by authorities.
A hint of the decade long darkness that was to descend on Punjab as the Indian army and police began a new phase of arbitrary arrests, torture and killing can be seen taking shape in the months following Operation Blue Star.
One of the earliest official government of India's accounting of events is an important part of the exhibit. This rare document presents a detailing of events and opinions according to the Indian government and was released on June 15th, one month before the release of their White Paper.
Magazines
Nov. 7, 1983 Time City of Death
June 18, 1984 Newsweek The Golden Temple Shoot-Out
June 18, 1984 Time Slaughter at the Golden Temple
June 25, 1984 Time Diamonds and the Smell of Death
July 2, 1984 Time The Roots of Violence
Newspapers
April 4, 1984 Globe and Mail Terror threatens economic gains of Indian state
April 5, 1984 Globe and Mail Politicians warned as Sikh terror continues
June 6, 1984 Toronto Star Army storms Sikh shrine in Punjab
June 6, 1984 Toronto Star There's a time for fighting Sikh guru said 300 years ago
June 6, 1984 Toronto Star Vancouver Sikhs protest at consulate
June 7, 1984 Globe and Mail 250 militants die as troops storm temple
June 7, 1984 Toronto Star Violence flares across India as Sikh leader dies in battle
June 7, 1984 Toronto Star Radicals' claims sparked ****** Sikh temple raid
June 7, 1984 Toronto Star We smile, never weep, besieged rebel said
June 7, 1984 Toronto Star Man charged in attack on Indian consulate
June 8, 1984 Toronto Sun Sikhs protest raid on holy temple
June 8, 1984 Globe and Mail 27 die, scores hurt in riots over assault on Golden Temple
June 8, 1984 Globe and Mail After the raid
June 8, 1984 Globe and Mail Toronto Sikhs scream for Gandhi's blood
June 8, 1984 Toronto Star 47 die as Sikhs avenge army invasion of temple
June 8, 1984 Toronto Star Death of militant may help Gandhi experts say
June 8, 1984 Toronto Star Ontario Sikhs gather to protest India's storming of holy temple
June 8, 1984 Toronto Sun Angry Sikhs condemn raid on holy shrine
June 8, 1984 Globe and Mail Smashing pictures was symbolic act, accused man says
June 9, 1984 Globe and Mail Sikh snipers still holding out as toll from temple raid rises
June 9, 1984 Globe and Mail Violence obscures Sikhs origin
June 10, 1984 Toronto Sun Religious violence kills six
June 10, 1984 Toronto Sun India faces all-out war, Sikh warns
June 11, 1984 Globe and Mail Death toll at temple 1,000 as India plans special force
June 11, 1984 Globe and Mail Sikhs march in London, threaten to kill Gandhi
June 11, 1984 Toronto Sun They're burning mad
June 11, 1984 Globe and Mail Sikhs protest across Canada
June 11, 1984 Toronto Sun Sikhs vow to avenge killings
June 11, 1984 Toronto Sun Mutiny by Sikhs in Indian army
June 12, 1984 Globe and Mail Death toll at Sikh temple may be as high as 2,000
June 12, 1984 Globe and Mail Bhindranwale: voice of rage leaves India a time bomb
June 13, 1984 Globe and Mail Sikh mutineers will be hanged, general says
June 14, 1984 Globe and Mail Sikh captives reported shot after battle
June 15, 1984 Globe and Mail Drugs reported found in Sikh temple
June 17, 1984 Toronto Star I had to stop Sikh threat Gandhi tells Prairie girl
June 17, 1984 Toronto Star Militant Sikhs kill Indian official
June 17, 1984 Toronto Sun Member of Gandhi party gunned down
June 17, 1984 Toronto Sun Sikhs form gov’t-in-exile
June 18, 1984 Globe and Mail Provisional government calls for sanctions against India
June 18, 1984 Globe and Mail Sikh protesters say that Turner is sympathetic to their views
June 18, 1984 Globe and Mail Sikhs, Moslems join in Toronto protest over Indian strife
June 18, 1984 Globe and Mail Sikhs rally in protest as President of India makes plea for unity
June 19, 1984 Globe and Mail Sikh militants freed by army; troops prepare to quit Punjab
June 20, 1984 Globe and Mail Fear of Sikh extremists prompts tight security
June 21, 1984 Globe and Mail Arrest toll hits 4,200 as roundup of Sikhs continues in Punjab
June 22, 1984 Globe and Mail Sikh temples reopened as military eases grip
June 22, 1984 Globe and Mail Temple inquiry needed
June 24, 1984 New York Times Mrs. Gandhi Visits Captured Temple
June 25, 1984 Toronto Star The two faces of Punjab terror
June 26, 1984 Toronto Sun Amritsar shrine reopened
June 27, 1984 Globe and Mail Golden Temple closed 1 day after reopening
June 28, 1984 Globe and Mail Sikh shrine reopened to pilgrims in Amritsar
July 6, 1984 Globe and Mail Hijackers threaten passengers
July 7, 1984 Toronto Star Sikh hijacking started 'emotional roller-coaster'
July 9, 1984 Globe and Mail Sikh party plans to send suicide squads to shrine
July 11, 1984 Globe and Mail Overseas Sikhs cited in report on violence
July 16, 1984 Toronto Star India police vow to stop 'suicide march' on Sikh temple
July 16, 1984 Toronto Sun Women 'suicide marching'
July 17, 1984 Globe and Mail 125 Sikhs arrested on march
July 19, 1984 Globe and Mail Angry Sikhs attack envoy in Winnipeg
July 19, 1984 Toronto Sun Winnipeg Sikhs rush India's envoy
July 22, 1984 Toronto Star Sikhs vanish in Indian crackdown
July 23, 1984 Globe and Mail Sikhs to avenge temple attack
July 23, 1984 Toronto Sun Head priests expel Sikh warrior chief
July 30, 1984 Toronto Sun Troops quell clashes in India
August 16, 1984 Toronto Sun Protest triggers violence
August 16, 1984 Globe and Mail Sikh Demonstration
August 16, 1984 Globe and Mail Sikh protest disrupts ceremony
August 16, 1984 Toronto Sun 12 arrested as Sikhs battle cops
August 16, 1984 Toronto Sun Mobs ruin Indira's party
August 16, 1984 Toronto Sun Sikh demonstrators clash with B.C. cops
August 25, 1984 Globe and Mail Hijackers head out of Karachi
August 25, 1984 Globe and Mail Charges against Sikh are dropped as Indian envoy refuses to testify
August 26, 1984 Toronto Star Sikh hijackers free hostages
Official Indian Government Account
June 15, 1984 India News High Commission of India newsletter Contact Sikhmuseum.com ©2009 • Copyright Policy
