This is the front page of The Indian Express published on August 12, 1984, Forty Years Ago.
The Sarbat Khalsa convention held the SGPC and its president, G S Tohra, responsible for the damage done to the Golden Temple complex and excommunicated Tohra from the “ Khalsa panth”. Significant changes in the Sikh Gurdwara Act have also been sought to ensure that Sikh sahibans (high priests) command due respect and are not reduced to the status of employees.
Gulf war intensifies
In one of the worst air and naval battles in the four-year-old Gulf War, Iraqi warplanes and naval units in their joint action shot down three Iranian war jets and destroyed five targets in the Khor Mousa area at the tip of the Gulf. After a month of lull, Iraq has intensified its attacks and in a fierce dogfight, shot down three Iranian warplanes which were escorting a naval convoy heading towards Iranian ports in the region that have been declared by Iraq as a “war zone”.
Sri Lanka violence
Six soldiers were killed and 25 injured when an army truck was ambushed by Tamil terrorists at Mulankavil in Sri Lanka’s northern Mannar district, according to unofficial sources in Colombo. The Mannar police station confirmed that there was an “incident”, but said details were awaited. Tamil United Liberation Front sources in Jaffna said security personnel indulged in “indiscriminate” firing near a bus stand.
PM misses Rakhi
For the first time in 30 years, Prime Minister Mrs Indira Gandhi, did not celebrate Rakshabandhan with the destitute children of Bal Sahyog in New Delhi. According to Bal Sahyog officials, the PM, who is the founder president of the institution, informed them only on the eve of her arrival about her inability to attend the function. “Urgent matters” are believed to be the cause of her absence.
