Congress leader Amarinder Singh on Sunday said that he had strongly opposed Operation Bluestar unlike Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, who “had asked the then Union Government to go for military action at Golden Temple”.
“I had strongly opposed the Operation Bluestar... unlike Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal who changes his stand and stance depending on the situation that suits him,” said Amarinder responding to the allegations levelled by Akali leaders Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa and Balwinder Singh Bhunder that he had advised the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on Bluestar.
Congress leader said that he did not need Akalis’ certificate about his opposition to the military operation. Pointing out that he not only resigned from the Congress party to protest against the Operation Bluestar, but also gave up his membership of the Parliament, Amarinder said: “I was involved in negotiations about the happenings in Punjab from 1980 to January 1984 when I dissociated myself from the process.”
He reiterated his question to Badal to explain to the people of Punjab as what transpired between him and the then Union Home Minister PV Narasimha Rao on March 28, 1984, and whether he did not recommend military action in Darbar Sahib as he was dead scared about rise of Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale. Accusing Badal of practising politics of double standards even then, the senior Congress leader claimed that on the one hand he recommended military action against Bhindranwale, on the other hand he (Badal) associated with Khalistan Commando Force led by Gurjant Singh Rajasthani for protection.
Reiterating his demand that all the documents related to Operation Bluestar be declassified, he wondered as how Badal will be able to defend himself once everything comes into the public domain. He exuded hope that the documents would be declassified soon as 30 years have already passed and now the public should be told what actually transpired at that time.