The former finance minister has revived a historic controversy over India’s most sensitive military operation.
Former Finance Minister P. Chidambaram recently stated that Operation Blue Star was a mistake, reigniting debates over the 1984 military action at the Golden Temple. His remarks have sparked controversy within Congress and drawn strong public attention to the political and historical ramifications of the operation.
Chidambaram noted that the order to conduct Operation Blue Star was not Indira Gandhi’s alone. It was an operation in cooperation with the Army, police, intelligence, and civil service, said Chidambaram. With the utmost respect for any military officer, that was the wrong way to rescue the Golden Temple. A couple of years later, we showed the right way – by not bringing in the army. Officials conducted subsequent operations with greater skill and less brutality.
Congress Responds Vigorously
Congress leaders were quick to criticize the statements made by Chidambaram, firing fire on the BJP and other political rivals. Rashid Alvi, a senior Congress leader, said, “It is a debatable issue whether Operation Blue Star was a right or wrong move. However, after around 50 years, what is the compulsion of P. Chidambaram to keep pointing fingers at Congress? Accusing Indira Gandhi of taking a wrong step, he speaks the same way the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi speak.” Alvi also hinted that Chidamabaram was under pressure, referring to the proceedings that ousted him from Congress leadership.
Another Congress leader, whom the newspaper has left anonymous, also refrained from criticizing the statement. “A senior leader has been given a lot by the party; therefore, he should speak sensibly. You can’t be making statements that lower the image of the party, all the time,” he said to the reporters.
Chidambaram on Modern Punjab
In a focus on modern Punjab, Chidambaram argued that the calls for Khalistan had definitely waned, but economic hardship now defines the region’s problems. He stated, “The demand for Khalistan or separation has almost gone away. The problem now is economic hardship. Many of the illegal migrants that are leaving India are from Punjab,” stating a political transition in Punjab — from separatism to economic survival and jobs.
Chidambaram on Operation Blue Star Mistake and Its Political Fallout
Operation Blue Star was initiated from June 1 to June 8, 1984, when Indira Gandhi’s government ordered a military operation to remove militants led by Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale from the Golden Temple complex in Amritsar. The Indian Army brought in tanks and heavy artillery and killed hundreds of militants, soldiers, and civilians. Operation Blue Star left an indelible mark on the Sikh community and prompted international outrage and ongoing resentment.
The outcome was devastating. On October 31, 1984, Indira Gandhi was assassinated by her Sikh bodyguards in revenge for the operation, a separate operation which destabilized the newly adopted government. The assassination led to anti-Sikh riots across the country, resulting in thousands of deaths and destruction.
Chidambaram’s comments have reopened old wounds within the Congress; they have also led to controversy over accountability, memory, and political responsibility.
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