Amid rising India-Pakistan tensions, Lt Gen D’Cunha’s claim about Air Defence Guns deployment at Golden Temple sparks controversy. Indian Army issues official denial.
Amritsar, May 20, 2025 — The Indian Army has officially denied claims that air defence (AD) guns were deployed at the Golden Temple in Amritsar during the recent escalation in tensions between India and Pakistan. The clarification comes after Lt General D’Cunha made a statement in an interview with ANI, asserting that air defence systems were indeed positioned at the holy Sikh shrine with the permission of its head granthi.
In the interview, Lt Gen D’Cunha remarked,
“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 drone coming.”
His comments quickly went viral on social media, sparking outrage and confusion among many members of the Sikh community and the general public. Numerous posts across platforms like X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, and Instagram claimed that India had placed military hardware inside one of the holiest sites of Sikhism.
Indian Army Issues Clarification
Responding to the uproar, the Indian Army issued an official statement to put the matter to rest.
“Some media reports are circulating with respect to the deployment of AD Guns in the Golden Temple. It is clarified that NO AD guns or any other AD resources were deployed within the premises of Sri Darbar Sahib Amritsar (The Golden Temple),” the statement read.
The Army emphasized its commitment to respecting religious sanctity and denied any involvement in stationing military equipment inside the Golden Temple complex.
Sensitive Timing and Religious Sentiment
The timing of Lt Gen D’Cunha’s statement, amid already heightened cross-border tensions, raised concerns about the sensitivity of deploying defence assets near a religious site. The Golden Temple, also known as Sri Harmandir Sahib, holds deep emotional and spiritual significance for millions of Sikhs worldwide.
The temple’s history with military action, particularly the tragic events of Operation Blue Star in 1984, makes any military association with the shrine an especially delicate topic.
What We Know So Far
While Lt Gen D’Cunha’s remarks indicate that certain defensive measures may have been considered or taken near the Golden Temple, the Indian Army’s firm denial makes it clear that no actual deployment of air defence systems occurred within its sacred boundaries.
There has been no official response yet from the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), which manages the affairs of the Golden Temple, nor from the head granthi himself.
The controversy underscores the importance of clear communication during sensitive times. While military preparedness is a necessity during conflict, transparency and respect for religious sites remain crucial pillars of national integrity. As it stands, the Indian Army has made it clear: no air defence guns were deployed within the Golden Temple premises.