AMRITSAR: Pakistan fired drones and missiles targeting Amritsar's Golden Temple in retaliation to Operation Sindoor aimed at terrorist sites within its territory, but India's air-defence preparedness and the head granthi's decision to allow the military to deploy air defence guns within the shrine ensured these "nefarious designs" were thwarted, the Indian Army said on Monday.
"On May 8, in the hours of darkness, Pakistan carried out a massive air assault with unmanned aerial weapons, primarily drones and long-range missiles. We were fully prepared since we had anticipated this, and our braveheart and alert Army air defence gunners shot down all drones and missiles targeted at the Golden Temple. Thus, not allowing even a scratch to come on our holy Golden Temple," Maj Gen Kartik C Seshadri , GOC of the 15 Infantry Division, told ANI.
Lt Gen Sumer Ivan D'Cunha, the Army's in-charge of air defence, said in a separate interview to the same news agency that this was made possible by the Golden Temple authorities offering to help in whatever way needed to safeguard the shrine from potential drone and missile attacks by Pakistan.
"It was very nice that the head granthi of the Golden Temple allowed us to deploy our guns. It is possibly for the first time in many years that they switched off the Golden Temple lights so that we could see the drones coming," ANI quoted Lt Gen D'Cunha as saying.
Major Gen Seshadri said knowing that the Pakistan Army did not have any "legitimate targets", the Indian armed forces anticipated they would target military installations, civilian targets and religious places.
"Of these, the Golden Temple, a veritable symbol of the nation's syncretic faith, appeared to be the most prominent. We mobilised additional modern air defence assets to give a holistic air defence umbrella cover to the Golden Temple," he said.
Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) chief secretary Kulwant Singh Mannan dismissed the possibility of the Golden Temple being under threat from Pakistan, while president Harjinder Singh Dhami declined comment.
"Whether it's the Indian or Pakistani Army, these are political agendas at play. No Army commander could conceive of attacking the Golden Temple," Mannan said.
He stressed the spiritual significance of the Golden Temple, calling it a place of peace, where millions come seeking solace. "This sacred place is where countless lives are spiritually transformed. Guru Ram Das blesses devotees with peace and tranquillity," Mannan said. "Even today, the sangat comes with full faith. No one should spread confusion or doubt."
Hours later, Mannan clarified that his views were personal and that he didn't specifically respond to the Indian Army's statement that the Golden Temple had been targeted by Pakistan. "It is my belief, and my heart is convinced, that no person of any faith could ever think of causing harm to the sacred shrine of Guru Ram Das, which stands for the message of Sarbat Da Bhala (welfare of all)," he said.
"On May 8, in the hours of darkness, Pakistan carried out a massive air assault with unmanned aerial weapons, primarily drones and long-range missiles. We were fully prepared since we had anticipated this, and our braveheart and alert Army air defence gunners shot down all drones and missiles targeted at the Golden Temple. Thus, not allowing even a scratch to come on our holy Golden Temple," Maj Gen Kartik C Seshadri , GOC of the 15 Infantry Division, told ANI.
Lt Gen Sumer Ivan D'Cunha, the Army's in-charge of air defence, said in a separate interview to the same news agency that this was made possible by the Golden Temple authorities offering to help in whatever way needed to safeguard the shrine from potential drone and missile attacks by Pakistan.
"It was very nice that the head granthi of the Golden Temple allowed us to deploy our guns. It is possibly for the first time in many years that they switched off the Golden Temple lights so that we could see the drones coming," ANI quoted Lt Gen D'Cunha as saying.
Major Gen Seshadri said knowing that the Pakistan Army did not have any "legitimate targets", the Indian armed forces anticipated they would target military installations, civilian targets and religious places.
"Of these, the Golden Temple, a veritable symbol of the nation's syncretic faith, appeared to be the most prominent. We mobilised additional modern air defence assets to give a holistic air defence umbrella cover to the Golden Temple," he said.
Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) chief secretary Kulwant Singh Mannan dismissed the possibility of the Golden Temple being under threat from Pakistan, while president Harjinder Singh Dhami declined comment.
"Whether it's the Indian or Pakistani Army, these are political agendas at play. No Army commander could conceive of attacking the Golden Temple," Mannan said.
He stressed the spiritual significance of the Golden Temple, calling it a place of peace, where millions come seeking solace. "This sacred place is where countless lives are spiritually transformed. Guru Ram Das blesses devotees with peace and tranquillity," Mannan said. "Even today, the sangat comes with full faith. No one should spread confusion or doubt."
Hours later, Mannan clarified that his views were personal and that he didn't specifically respond to the Indian Army's statement that the Golden Temple had been targeted by Pakistan. "It is my belief, and my heart is convinced, that no person of any faith could ever think of causing harm to the sacred shrine of Guru Ram Das, which stands for the message of Sarbat Da Bhala (welfare of all)," he said.
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