Congress MP P. Chidambaram has expressed criticism of the 1984 Operation Blue Star, describing it as “the wrong way” to address the situation at the Golden Temple. He remarked that former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi ultimately paid for that “mistake” with her life.
Speaking at the Khushwant Singh Literary Festival 2025, Chidambaram, who has served as Union Home and Finance Minister, highlighted Operation Black Thunder as a more effective example of crisis management. He noted that it succeeded without deploying the Army within the sacred site.
In his remarks, Chidambaram stated, “No disrespect to any military officers here, but that (Blue Star) was the wrong way to retrieve the Golden Temple. A few years later, we showed the right way to retrieve the Golden Temple by keeping out the Army.” He emphasized that the June 1984 operation was a collective decision involving the Army, police, intelligence services, and civil administration. “You cannot blame it only on Mrs. Gandhi,” he added.
During the event, Chidambaram was engaged in a discussion about the book They Will Shoot You, Madam: My life through conflict with author Harinder Baweja.
Operation Blue Star, conducted over ten days from June 1 to June 10, 1984, aimed to remove Sikh militants—including Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale—who had allegedly amassed weapons within the Golden Temple complex. The Indian Army entered the temple on June 6, following orders from then-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. Bhindranwale, the leader of the radical Sikh group Damdami Taksal, was killed during the operation, along with many armed followers. This military action remains one of the most contentious in independent India’s history.
The operation faced significant backlash, and months later, on October 31, 1984, Indira Gandhi was assassinated by two of her Sikh bodyguards, Beant Singh and Satwant Singh, at her residence in New Delhi.
(With inputs from agencies)
