Dhami pointed out that even during the blackout when the outer lights were switched off, large numbers of devotees continued to visit and do sewa (voluntary service) at the Golden Temple and had there been any gun deployment, the sangat (congregation) would have noticed it.While acknowledging the commendable role played by the Army and the country during the tense circumstances, he expressed surprise that an Army officer would make such a claim and demanded that the Union government clarify why such a statement was issued. Golden Temple head granthi Giani Raghbir Singh also clarified that although he was on an international visit during the Army operation, there was no communication with him regarding any gun deployment, nor did any such incident occur. Lieutenant General D’Cunha, Director General of Army Air Defence, had told a news channel, “It was very nice that the head granthi of the Golden Temple allowed us to deploy our guns.” He said the unprecedented cooperation from the Golden Temple authorities came after they were briefed on the gravity of the threat, following which the air defence guns were deployed.Prior to him, Major General Kartik C Seshadri, the general officer commanding (GOC), 15 Infantry Division, had said the Golden Temple was targeted by Pakistan forces with missiles and drones and India’s air defence system had successfully intercepted and destroyed them to protect the shrine.
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