The BBC is likely to stir up a hornet’s nest of controversy over a programme due to be broadcast this week on Sikh history.

An hour-long documentary presented by Sonia Deol titled ‘1984: A Sikh Story’ will ret-tell the story of the year the Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi sent troops into the holiest and most revered of Sikh shrines, The Golden Temple.

AIM Magazine has learnt that it is likely to prove controversial with some Sikh groups because of its portrayal of the militant Sikh preacher Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale.

It is also likely to draw the ire of the Indian government for its story on how it reacted following the assassination of Indira Gandhi.

The film is being made from the personal perspective of Ms Deol and other young British Sikhs, given it has been 25 years since those events.

The makers of the film said it has been only recently that Sonia has begun to understand her faith – an awakening that began during her own visit to The Golden Temple.

‘[T]here are many questions she needs answered. How could Indian troops, led by a Sikh, storm such a sacred shrine? How did the ‘cult’ of Bhindranwale attract so many Sikh followers and why is he still revered by some today?’

Starting in the UK and following Sonia on her journey to India, it will will tell the story of her personal voyage to understand the history of her faith and explore what it means to be Sikh in Britain today.

She will also meet up with those caught up in the aftermath of Mrs Gandhi’s assassination and the resulting terrifying riots in Delhi.

Throughout her journey, Sonia will meet and interview eye-witnesses, including Giani Puran Singh a Golden Temple priest who dodged bullets from both the Indian army and Bhindranwale’s men; as well as the Army General Brar who was in charge of Operation Blue Star and whose army stormed the temple.

She will interview the women who were widowed during the riots and BBC correspondent Mark Tully, who became known for giving the world an insight into these events as they were happening, on the ground.

But the film is likely to be welcomed by many Sikh campaigners for telling an important story that has long since been ignored in the international media.

The BBC itself has been frequently criticised for ignoring coverage of Sikh and Hindu issues while focusing disproportionately on Islam and Muslims.

Executive producer Tommy Nagra said: “The events of 1984 have become an iconic and integral part of modern Sikh history. This is very much a personal film unravelling a chain of bloody events that India had not witnessed since the days of Partition.”

1984: A Sikh Story
Sunday 10 January at 10:55pm on BBC One