Operation Blue Star anniversary: Pro Khalistan slogans raised at India’s Golden Temple

Protesters were also seen carrying posters of slain separatist leader Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, who along with his armed followers was killed during Operation Blue Star launched by the Indian Army.

• Shubham
• 06 June, 2023

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By: Shubham Ghosh

Pro-Khalistan slogans were raised by some people at the Golden Temple in Amritsar in the northern Indian state of Punjab on the 39th anniversary of Operation Blue Star on Tuesday (6).

Protesters were also seen carrying posters of slain separatist leader Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, who was the head of the radical Sikh outfit Damdami Taksal.

He along with his armed followers was killed during Operation Blue Star launched by the Indian Army to flush out the militants from the Golden Temple complex in June 1984.

Indira Gandhi was the prime minister of India then.

Earlier today, security was beefed up at the Golden Temple and across Amritsar, which is located around 24 kilometres from the India-Pakistan border, on Operation Blue Star anniversary.

Deputy commissioner of police, law and order, Parminder Singh Bhandal said that police personnel in civil dress were also deployed. The city was under total surveillance to prevent any untoward incident, he said, adding that adequate police personnel has been posted at various spots in the city.

Additional director general of police Arpit Shukla had mentioned that security arrangements have been put in place across Punjab. Central forces have also been deployed, she said.

“I appeal the people to maintain peace in the state and action will be taken against those who spread rumors.”

June 6, 1984 marked the day when the Indian Army, under Operation Blue Star, stormed into the Golden Temple on orders of Indira Gandhi to contain Sikh militancy under the leadership of Bhindranwale in Punjab. It was informed that Bhindranwale had stashed large quantities of arms in the Golden Temple premises.

The Operation was heavily criticised and in October the same year, Indira Gandhi was assassinated by two of her Sikh bodyguards at her New Delhi residence.

(With ANI inputs)