Operation Blue Star 'wrong way' to reclaim Golden Temple: Chidambaram
What's the story
Senior Congress leader and former Union minister P Chidambaram has called the 1984 "Operation Blue Star" a "wrong way" to reclaim the Golden Temple in Punjab. Speaking at a literature event in Kasauli, he said that former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi paid for this decision with her life. Chidambaram clarified that the decision was not solely taken by Gandhi but was a collective one involving the Army, police, intelligence, and civil service.
Economic focus
Current situation in Punjab
Chidambaram also spoke about the current situation in Punjab, saying that demands for Khalistan have died down and economic distress is now a major concern. He said most illegal migrants are from Punjab and emphasized that "the real problem is the economic situation." "Operation Blue Star" was launched between June 1-8, 1984, under Gandhi's government to quell a separatist movement led by Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale.
Community fallout
About Operation Blue Star
The operation aimed to flush out Bhindranwale and his armed supporters from the Golden Temple complex. It involved heavy military equipment, resulting in hundreds of deaths among militants, soldiers, and civilians. The assault wounded the Sikh community deeply and triggered widespread outrage across India. The fallout was immediate: on October 31, 1984, Indira Gandhi was assassinated by her Sikh bodyguards in retaliation for the operation.