Operation Blue Star a ‘black day’: Maharashtra minister Girish Mahajan’s remark triggers row

Senior BJP leader and Maharashtra minister Girish Mahajan has kicked up a row by terming Operation Blue Star a “black day” and dubbing those killed in the military action “martyrs” while slamming the then prime minister, Indira Gandhi.

He also likened the Army action to the invasion of the Golden Temple by Afghan ruler Ahmad Shah Abdali.

Mahajan became the first representative of any state Government to attend the Operation Blue Star anniversary commemoration at the headquarters of Damdami Taksal in Amritsar district last Saturday. “For us, Operation Blue Star is a black day. Our brothers and sisters were martyred and killed,” he said while addressing the gathering in Amritsar.

Terming Operation Blue Star a “military attack” on the Sikh community’s holy shrine, Mahajan alleged that then PM Indira Gandhi had forcibly sent the Army into Punjab and inside the sacred complex. “It was a military attack on our holy shrine. Indiraji forcibly sent them (the Army) to Punjab and into our sacred place,” he said. Drawing a parallel with Ahmad Shah Abdali’s invasion of the Golden Temple, Mahajan said the attack on the holy Sikh shrine in 1984 had caused deep pain to the community.

He further alleged that Sikhs were brutally killed and claimed that those responsible were never punished. “Such a major tragedy took place. I would not call it an accident, but a deliberate act in which so many of our brothers and sisters were killed. Even after that, nobody was punished,” Mahajan said.

Operation Blue Star was a military operation by armed forces conducted between June 1 and 10,1984, with the stated objective of removing Damdami Taksal leader Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale and militants from the buildings of the Golden Temple.

The operation marked the beginning of the insurgency in Punjab. The remarks triggered backlash from Congress and Shiv Sena (UBT), with senior leaders demanding Mahajan’s sacking from the cabinet and BJP.

Maharashtra Congress president Harshwardhan Sapkal said the minister should apologise to the armed forces for insulting them with his “Abdali invasion” remark and the people of the country, accusing him of attempting to glorify Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale.

In a statement, Sapkal said Operation Blue Star was a necessary military action against armed Khalistani militants and was not directed against any religion.

He alleged that Mahajan’s comments questioned the sacrifices made by those who acted to safeguard the country’s unity and integrity.