Operation Blue Star was started by the Indian Army in June 1984 to conduct an operation on Harmandir Sahib, which is usually called as “Golden Temple” by many people. They also attacked 41 other Gurudwaras across Punjab state.
The Army managed to succeed, yet certain Sikhs became very angry because they saw this mission as an assault on their religion. It started at a time when human rights were not respected much in Punjab, and this situation is still affecting how laws work in India today.
In this article, we will look into the background history, meaning, key points, and the aftermath of Operation Blue Star in detail.
What was Operation Blue Star?
Operation Blue Star was a military operation that took place in Punjab in 1984, done by the Indian Army. On June 1st of that year, the army started shooting at different buildings inside the Golden Temple Complex. Many ordinary people died because of this. On June 6, 1984, India’s leader Indira Gandhi gave command for military action. This was to remove Bhindranwale and his fighters who were inside the Golden Temple.
The whole operation took ten days, beginning on the first of June in 1984 and finishing on the tenth of that same month.
Background of the Khalistan Movement
The idea of Khalistan comes from Sikhism, a religion that started in the 15th century while northern India was controlled by the Mughals.
Guided by Guru Gobind Singh, in 1699 the religion was reshaped into Khalsa, a term from Arabic that means pure. This change included a political aspect. This is to defend Sikhs and different faiths against religious oppression and to set up Sikh governance. These are the years showing the history of the Khalistan movement:
- 1947: The Indian subcontinent was divided, and thus came about a movement called Punjabi Suba. This movement advocated for the establishment of a state in which Sikh people who speak Punjabi could have their government.
- In 1952, the then Prime Minister of India Jawaharlal Nehru declared his intention to stop requests for creating a state where Punjabi would be the main language. This move began causing rifts between Sikh and Hindu people.
- Ultimately, in 1966, the state of Punjab was created, with Chandigarh as its capital.
What is the Khalistan Movement?
Khalistan is what some Sikhs call the state they hope to create. This state would include Punjab from India and other places where people speak Punjabi in north India. They would make it a country for Sikhs.
In the 1970s and early 1980s, in India, there was more support for the movement that wanted freedom based on ethnic and religious identity. It became less active after some time, but nowadays it is getting more attention from Sikh people living abroad.
The Emergence of Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale
Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale emerged during times of political turmoil. He was a religious preacher who claimed to be “the voice of the Sikhs.”
- Congress’s intention had been to balance Shiromani Akali Dal influence in Punjab and hence approached Bhindranwale.
- By the start of the 1980s, he began to present challenges because he gained a following among young people. Bhindranwale was also participating in forceful speeches.
- In 1982, he became part of the Dharam Yudh Morcha, which is a nonviolent protest started by Akalis.
- To escape arrest from police officers, he moved to Akal Takht, which is located in the Golden Temple area.
What Happened During Operation Blue Star in 1984?
After the division of India into West Pakistan (now Pakistan), and East Pakistan (now Bangladesh), the idea for a Khalistan started to come up. Because there was a new border made, Punjab got divided too; this place has most people who follow Sikhism. Significant places for Sikh traditions and faith, such as Lahore and Nankana Sahib, were included in the territory of Pakistan.
Army Operations
Operation Bluestar was divided into two parts: Operation Metal and Operation Shop.
Operation Metal
The initial operation started on the first of June, and it was confined to only the Golden Temple area. During this mission, officers from the CRPF and BSF went into the temple space, and eight or ten individuals were killed by them. The military force took charge of Harmandir Sahib on June 7th, which led to the conclusion of Operation Metal by June 10th.
Operation Shop
Military power was applied again during Operation Shop, where the army searched parts of Punjab to find suspects. Then came Operation Woodrose, during which tanks, helicopters, and tear gas were deployed by Indian soldiers. As they were aiming to catch any leftover suspects.
Key Points of Operation Blue Star
The below are som of the key points of Operation Blue Star:
- Operation Blue Star was the name for an action by the Indian military. Its goal was to take out separatist groups hiding in the Golden Temple of Amritsar on June 5, 1984.
- Then, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi gave orders for the operation. Her main purpose was to gain control over the Harmandir Sahib Complex in Amritsar, which is often called the Golden Temple.
- The Indian army went inside the temple area to remove Sikh radical faith leader Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale and his group, who had weapons.
- This operation helped in eliminating Khalistani terrorism.
- It resulted in the death of Bhindranwale.
- Some months after Operation Blue Star, Indira Gandhi got killed by her Sikh security men, and this led to very bad riots against Sikhs in Delhi.
The Aftermath of Operation Blue Star
After Operation Blue Star finished, the situation was similar to past attacks on the Golden Temple. Many people died because they wanted revenge for this operation. Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was killed by her two Sikh security guards. General AS Vaidya, the 13th leader of the Army who managed that mission, got murdered in Pune after he left his job.
Kanishka, the airplane with AI Flight 182, was carrying passengers flying from Montreal to Delhi, and it went down after being bombed. About 5000 soldiers from the Sikh regiment in the Indian army and another company of other organizations were also part of the operation. Numerous distinguished Sikh leaders and scholars who received awards from the Indian government gave back their medals and certificates.
Assassination of Indira Gandhi
Indira Gandhi got killed on the 31st of October in 1984. She was shot by her own security men, Beant Singh and Satwant Singh, who were close to her with their guns. They did this because they wanted to get back for how the Sikhs felt embarrassed. And how their holy place, the Golden Temple, was not respected when Operation Blue Star happened earlier that same year in June.
Riots Against Sikhs
After the two Sikh bodyguards killed then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1984, riots against Sikhs started. In these violent times, many Sikhs lost their lives, with Delhi being the city that suffered most; Kanpur also saw significant unrest.
For three years, the Special Investigation Team pinpointed 92 suspects believed to be part of killings, violent disturbances, setting fires, and theft across 11 severe crime incidents related to riots. Checks showed that out of these 92 individuals, 20 had passed away.
The SIT collected proof and talked with witnesses across Delhi, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan. Around 135 individuals gave their testimony according to Section 164 of the CrPC in front of a qualified magistrate in Kanpur. They assisted the SIT by identifying 72 persons linked to the riots from 1984. They also mentioned DIG Balendu Bhushan Singh, who was in charge of leading this investigation.
Conclusion – Operation Blue Star
Operation Blue Star was aimed at the elimination of violent Sikh leader Jarnail Singh Bhindrawale. And his armed group that had weapons hidden in Amritsar’s Golden Temple. What the Indian Army managed to do came with a high price tag, however, because this action resulted in killing India’s Prime Minister at that time. Many riots also erupted in all parts of the country in 1984. Sikh communities in different parts of the world also started pointing out problems with Operation Blue Star. This further gave rise to more militants coming forward and fighting about the Khalistan movement, which was regarded as a terrorist group.
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FAQs on Operation Blue Star
Who introduced Operation Blue Star?
Operation Blue Star was declared by the Prime Minister of India Mrs. Indira Gandhi . Lt.General Kuldip Brar led this operation by the Indian Army.
Was Operation Bluestar successful?
This operation was successful because the Indian Army did not only kill Bhindranwale but also many of his followers who were inside the holiest temple for Sikhs.
What was the aim of Operation Blue Star?
Operation Bluestar targeted the disarming of militant Sikh leader Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale and his group of armed followers who were fortified within the Golden Temple area in Amritsar.
What was destroyed in Operation Bluestar?
Har Mandir Sahib, which is commonly known as the Golden Temple was attacked with over 40 other gurdwaras all across Punjab; these are places that were considered holy destinations by the Sikhs. This ironically took place in June 1984 when India lurked under Congress socialism led by Indira Gandhi.
Why did Operation Blue Star fail?
The operation succeeded because it eliminated most separatists, but the military task totally failed as it did not stop almost all of Harmandir Sahib and Akal Takht from being destroyed.
How many soldiers got died in the Operation Blue Star?
As per the reports, total 554 militants and civilians were dead, in which 83 troops of the Indian Army was included. These 83 troops consists of 4 officers and 79 soldiers of the Indian Army.
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