In June 1984, on instructions of the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, the Indian Army carried out Operation Blue Star to snuff out Khalistani separatist leader and terrorist Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale from inside the Golden Temple in Amritsar.
Over the years, many have wondered if attacking the holy shrine was needed to eliminate the terrorists. Whether it was the best option then or not is a topic for another debate some other time, but let us talk about how this monster, that eventually consumed Indira Gandhi, was her own creation.
Do you know that Bhindranwale was the product of the efforts of Indira Gandhi, Sanjay Gandhi, Giani Zail Singh and Kamal Nath. A militant leader who was raised as a rival to Akali leadership, actually backfired against the Congressmen only. Why? Because after this, the demand of Khalistan arose!
PM Modi during his very recent Lok sabha speech during the No Confidence Motion, addressed how the Akal Takht was attacked in June 1984 during the tenure of the then PM Indira Gandhi.
However, soon after, Congress-friendly media and propagandists got into action mode and justified the action of Indira Gandhi suggesting that Indira ordering a siege of Akal Takth was the need of the moment.
Akal Takht is one of the five takhts of the Sikhs, which is located in the Darbar Sahib or the Golden temple complex in Amritsar. Whenever Operation Blue Star is talked about, there are two names which are always on the front page. Indira Gandhi and Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale.
But Bhindranwale was actually propped up by Indira Gandhi and Congress to check the popularity of the Akalis. The seeds of militancy which were sowed by the then-Congress leaders actually backfired on them, which they ultimately had to destroy. But the damage was done and the Khalistani elements unfortunately managed to spread their tentacles.
Several Congress leaders are linked with the rise of Jarnail Singh Bhindrawale. About which, Kuldip Nayar in his book, “Tragedy of Punjab” had mentioned that Sanjay Gandhi had proposed to hire a ‘saint’ to challenge the Akali Dal. The proposal was accepted by electing Bhindranwale, who was actually a fanatic. Also one of the closest allies of Sanjay Gandhi, Kamal Nath had himself told Kuldeep Nayar that they often used to give money to Bhindranwale but they never thought that he would become a terrorist.
In Fact, the former President of India, Giani Zail Singh who was also the CM of Punjab is believed to have played a prominent role in the rise of Bhindranwale to back Congress during the Punjab elections. In a book named “Amritsar,Mrs. Gandhi’s last battle” by Mark Tully and Satish Jacob, it is clearly mentioned that the first meeting of the “Dal Khalsa” party was held in a hotel in Amritsar to politicise Bhindranwale, which was just a week before the attack on the Nirankari convention. The book also mentions how Zail Singh called every journalist, just to keep “Dal Khalsa” on the front page of every newspaper. He left no stone unturned to promote Bhindranwale through his party.
Another volume of a book series “A Centenary History of the Indian National Congress” mentions how Zail Singh and Sanjay Gandhi contributed to the rise of Bhindranwale, which did weaken the Akalis but in return led to the growth of communalism of provincial politics.
The collective effort by Sanjay Gandhi, Kamal Nath and Zail Singh could only be possible with the backing of the then PM Indira Gandhi. This network was confirmed by Lt. General Kuldeep Singh Brar, who led the 1984 Operation Blue star. In one of the podcast episodes with Editor in Chief of news agency ANI, Smita Prakash, he mentioned that Indira Gandhi allowed Bhindranwale to become Frankenstein’s monster but when he reached the pinnacle, he had to be destroyed.
A first-person account detail of the Punjab crisis has been narrated by former RAW officer GBS Sindhu, who mentioned that there are no written records of such operations as everything was decided verbally. In his book “The Khalistan Conspiracy” he mentioned that Khalistan sentiments were deliberately encouraged with the rise of Bhindrawale by the Congress leaders back then. It was narrated that “We(congress) will win next election on Khalistan Bhindranwale issue”
Bhindranwale, who was the head of the Sikh religious sect Damdami Taksal, was killed along with his armed followers during Operation Blue Star. Soon after this, there was a rise in Khalistani activities, who demanded a separate state homeland for the Sikhs.
The fire that Congress ignited to light up their party is now burning their own homes. Both in India and abroad we all are aware of the several anti-nationalist activities that the Khalistanis have indulged in.
Not even a word was uttered back then by the Congress about the militant leader Bhindranwale whom they cradled. But it backfired and a few months later, Indira Gandhi was assassinated by her two Sikh bodyguards, triggering widespread anti-Sikh riots when Congress leaders and workers decided to avenge it.
The rise of Bhindranwale and separatist sentiments is yet another ‘Mohabbat ki dukaan’ Congress doesn’t want you to know.
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