'Britain's role in Operation Bluestar very minimal'

In the wake of revelations of Britain's advisory role in Operation Bluestar, a British minister Friday said here his country's role was "minimal" and the matter is a "domestic" one for India.

Greg Barker, Britain's minister of state for energy and climate change and minister for business engagement with India, declined to comment further on the issue.

"As I understand, Britain's involvement was very minimal... It is a domestic matter," Barker told the media here on the sidelines of an event organised jointly by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and the United Kingdom Trade and Investment (UKTI).

British Foreign Secretary William Hague Tuesday said Britain had advised the then Indian government ahead of the June 1984 storming of the Golden Temple in Amritsar by the Indian army. However, he clarified that his country had no operational involvement.

Making a statement in the British parliament, Hague cited the report filed by the British cabinet secretary following instructions from Prime Minister David Cameron to investigate the matter.

The Indian external affairs ministry spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin said in New Delhi that the British government has kept India "informed on this matter" since it surfaced more than two weeks ago.

The Indian government headed by then prime minister Indira Gandhi had ordered storming of the Golden Temple in June 1984 to flush out Sikh extremists holed up inside the temple revered by Sikhs.