Golden Temple Controversy: Army Denies Air Defence Deployment, Head Granthi Calls Claims “Propaganda”

Photo by Ammy Singh via pexels

New Delhi | TheTrendingPeople.com — A controversy has erupted over the Indian Army’s reported deployment of air defence (AD) guns at the Golden Temple in Amritsar during Operation Sindoor. While Lieutenant General Sumer Ivan D'Cunha earlier claimed that the army had positioned anti-air systems within the temple premises with the approval of the head granthi, the Indian Army has now issued an official denial. Meanwhile, Giani Raghbir Singh, the head granthi of the Golden Temple, has rejected the claims, calling them “propaganda.”

The issue has triggered concern across Punjab and beyond, raising questions about the military's communication, religious sensitivities, and the credibility of conflicting narratives.

What Did the Army Initially Say?

In an interview with news agency ANI, Lieutenant General D'Cunha — who heads the Indian Army’s air defence command — spoke about countermeasures taken during Operation Sindoor, a high-level security operation to deter Pakistani drone activity. He praised the cooperation of the Golden Temple authorities, claiming that for the first time, the shrine’s lights were switched off to enhance detection of incoming aerial threats.

“It was very nice that the head granthi of the Golden Temple allowed us to deploy our guns… possibly for the first time in many years that they switched off the Golden Temple lights so that we could see the drone coming,” Lt Gen D'Cunha said.

He added that Pakistan appeared to target high-profile religious locations like the Golden Temple to trigger chaos within India.

Army’s Official Statement: No Guns Deployed at Darbar Sahib

Following widespread backlash and confusion, the Indian Army issued a clarification on Monday. In a strongly worded statement, the army said no air defence guns or any other military equipment were deployed within the Golden Temple premises.

“The reports claiming the deployment of AD guns at Sri Darbar Sahib are incorrect. No such deployment took place,” the army statement said, in an effort to end speculation.

This statement seemingly contradicted Lt Gen D'Cunha’s earlier televised remarks.

Head Granthi Giani Raghbir Singh Refutes Military’s Claim

Adding fuel to the fire, Golden Temple’s head granthi Giani Raghbir Singh publicly refuted the general’s statement and said no army official contacted him at any point. He further clarified that he was not even present in India when the operation occurred.

“I was not contacted by any army officer. There was no communication on any gun deployment, nor did any such incident occur at Sri Darbar Sahib,” he said.

Giani Raghbir Singh added that he was on leave in the United States from April 24 to May 14, a timeline that completely overlaps with the period in which Operation Sindoor took place.

“The conflict started after I left and ended before I returned. I had no role in any such decision,” he stated.

SGPC Asked to Investigate

Taking a strong stand, Giani Raghbir Singh called upon the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) — the apex religious body that manages the Golden Temple — to probe the matter thoroughly. He urged the committee to verify if any SGPC member had unauthorized dealings with the army.

“The SGPC should investigate this matter and take departmental action if any member is found involved in unauthorised communication with the Indian Army,” he said.

His response highlights growing concerns over transparency and communication between religious institutions and security forces.

Religious Sensitivity and Public Backlash

The Golden Temple, also known as Sri Darbar Sahib, holds the highest spiritual significance for the Sikh community worldwide. Any mention of military deployment within its sacred premises inevitably draws strong reactions, due to historical wounds — most notably Operation Blue Star in 1984, which led to deep mistrust between the Sikh community and the Indian state.

Social media has seen widespread criticism of the army’s initial claims. Many Sikhs and civil rights advocates demanded an official apology from Lt Gen D'Cunha, while others called for restraint in using religious sites for military optics.

Pakistan’s Drone Threat and Operation Sindoor

Operation Sindoor was launched as part of India’s counter-strategy against increasing drone infiltrations and psychological warfare by Pakistan. According to military sources, Pakistan’s drones had begun targeting civilian areas and sensitive locations