Operation Blue Star
My Dear Indians,
June 5-6 is the anniversary of "Operation Blue Star"
What was "Operation Blue Star" ?
“Operation Blue Star” was a product of Mrs Indira Gandhi’s lust for power.
For the Indian Army it was an operation that had to be executed on the orders of the Govt and it was executed successfully.
But the situation requiring “Operation Blue Star” could have been avoided had Indira Gandhi not been hungry for power, at every cost.
Indira Gandhi did NOT learn her lessons in 1975 when she imposed Emergency and suspended Democracy in India.
What led to “Operation Blue Star” in June 1984 ?
What happened before and after “Operation Blue Star” ?
He is the Indian Army Officer who planned and executed "Operation Blue Star" .
Lt Gen Kuldip Singh Brar is a Sikh.
Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale was a Sikh.
Maj Gen Shahbeg Singh was a Sikh.
Capt (later Colonel) Jasbir Singh Raina is a Sikh
Someone fought for India , someone fought against India and someone fought for as well as against India !!
Lets go back in time…..
On 15 November 1920 a Sikh organization by the name “Shiromani Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC) “ was formed.
Today SGPC is responsible for managing Sikh Gurudwaras in Punjab, Harayana and Himanchal Pradesh.
Sardar Master Tara Singh was one of the founding members of SGPC.
On 14 December the same year (1920) a group within SGPC was formed as a task force by the name “Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD)”.
Master Tara Singh was the head of SAD.
(Today SAD is a political party with many factions)
When the idea of India’s partition came up in 1940s, “Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD)” opposed it. They were against partition.
When India was portioned, the state of Punjab was divided onto two. West Punjab went to Pakistan and East Punjab stayed with India.
East Punjab was a mix of Punjabi speaking and Hindi speaking people.
In 1947 when the British left, East Punjab and former princely states like Patiala became a part of India.
In 1950, two states were created, one was Punjab (the eastern part of divided Punjab) and the other state was called “Patiala and East Punjab States Union (PEPSU).
In 1956 PEPSU was merged with Punjab by way of “States Reorganisation Act”.
This Punjab had ‘Punjabi’ as well as ‘Hindi’ speaking Indians.
Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) led a movement for a separate ‘Punjabi’ speaking state.
In 1966 separate states of “Punjabi” speaking Punjab and “Hindi” speaking Haryana were created by way of “Punjab Reorganisation Act, 1966”. Chandigarh was made the common capital of both states.
Some regions were transferred to the Union Territory of Himanchal Pradesh. Notable one was “Kangra”
Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) was credited with creation of the present state of Punjab.
SAD became a political party and came to power in 1967 immediately after creation of the state.
With time SAD became a dominant political force of Punjab.
A man called Harcharan Singh Longewal was the head of SAD.
He was revered as a “Sant” (Saint) in Punjab.
He was addressed as Sant Harcharan Singh Longewal.
Indian National Congress (INC) under Indira Gandhi remained a second player in Punjab.
To break the political dominance of SAD, Indira Gandhi “selected” a man to be a political opponent to SAD. I am purposefully using the word “selected”. I will explain –Why.
In fact it Indira Gandhi’s son Sanjay Gandhi who planned this for Indira Gandhi. Sanjay Gandhi was known for his extra constitutional and illegal ways of getting things done. (Sanjay Gandhi was Rahul Gandhi’s Uncle (Chacha))
In 1977…. Indira Gandhi revoked “Emergency” that had been imposed by her.
Today Congress party lectures on Fundamental Rights, Human Rights, Democratic Institutions and Constitution---- this same Congress party had made a mockery of these rights and institutions by imposing a Constitutional Emergency in India.
Indira Gandhi did not learn her political lessons during Emergency.
She was just ‘hungry’ for power.
In 1977 Sanjay Gandhi and senior leaders of Congress Party including Zail Singh (who later became the President of India) and Kamalnath shortlisted two men to be projected as a “Sant” against Sant Harcharan Singh Longewal of SAD.
Finally, Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale was selected.
The plan was to groom him as a ‘Sant” who would pull the Punjabi and Sikh population towards the Congress Party.
With this, they expected, that SAD would be weakened.
BUT….
But Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale turned out to be more cunning, shrewd and ‘power-hungry’ than Indira Gandhi !
His lust for power was BIGGER than Indira Gandhi's.
Once he became popular as a “Sant” he became an authority in himself and stood up against Indira Gandhi and India. He started demanding a separate country for the Sikhs called “Khalistan”.
Indira Gandhi never expected that he would turn against her.
Her political slave who she patronized , trained and nurtured for her own political ambitions turned against her.
Kabir was right when he said- (कबीर के दोहे)
बोए पेड़ बबूल का, आम कहा से पाये
(meaning….. as you sow so shall you reap)
Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale eventually became the reason for Indira Gandhi’s death.
In an interview with “India Today” magazine, Congress leader Kamalnath who was instrumental in identifying Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale as a “Sant” candidate of Congress Party said this and I quote—
"The first one(shortlisted candidate) we interviewed did not look a 'courageous type'. Bhindranwale, strong in tone and tenor, seemed to fit the bill. We would give him money off and on, but we never thought he would turn into a terrorist."
👆This is the reason why I said that Congress Party 'selected' a candidate to be a 'Sant' against Sant Harcharan Singh Longewal.
Congress leader Kamalnath has served as a Union Minister in Congress Govts at the Centre and also as Chief Miniter of Madhya Pradesh.
It is sad that we had such ministers.
Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale was the leader of “DamdamiTaksal”. (The Damdami Taksal is a Sikh educational organization)
Bhindranwale had an influence on Sikh youth. He persuaded many people to follow Sikh rules and tenets. His followers started calling him as Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, meaning ‘saint’ or ‘संत’.
With time he became stronger.
He wanted to separate the state of Punjab from India and form a new country ‘Khalistan”- a country for Sikhs. Pakistan was helping him not because Pakistan loved him or loved Indian Sikhs but they wanted to harm India. They way India separated East Pakistan into Bangladesh, Pakistan wanted a revenge by separating Punjab from India.
When Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale went out of control and became violent there were demands that he be arrested.
To evade arrest, Bhindranwale and his armed supporters took over the Akal Takht complex in Amritsar's Golden Temple and made it their head quarter. They accumulated arms and ammunition there (supplied by Pakistan and Khalistan supporters).
Akal Takht and Golden Temple are sacred to Sikhs. This is the supreme place of worship of Sikhs.
Harmandir Sahib or Darbar Sahib is the actual name of what we know as Golden Temple in Amritsar. Har- means God. And Mandir- means Temple or the home of God.
Operation Blue Star was specifically aimed to eliminate Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale from the Golden Temple complex and to free Harmandir Sahib (Golden Temple).
Operation Blue Star happened on 5 June 1984.
It was led by Lt Gen. Kuldip Singh Brar. He was then a Major General. Earlier during the India Pakistan war in 1971 he was honoured with the ‘VIr Chakra’
He fought FOR India as a soldier of India acting under the orders of a civilian Govt. He just did his duty with no love or hatred for anyone. But for the last 38 years he has been receiving life threats from pro-Khalistan groups. These groups want to avenge Operation Blue Star.
Because of these threats, for the last 38 years Lt Gen. Kuldip Singh Brar has been living in Mumbai Cantonment under heavy security of The Indian Army.
Bhindranwale and his men had converted The Golden Temple into a military fort. He had arms and ammunition from Pakistan, but how could he execute everything it like a experienced soldier ?
It was Major General Shabeg Singh who helped him.
Major General Shabeg Singh was a former officer in the Indian Army.
Before the India Pakistan war in 1971, he played an important role in training the ‘Mukti Vahini’. ‘Mukti Vahini’ was the local force of ‘East Pakistanis’ that revolted against the Pakistan Army in East Pakistan. Later on 3 Dec 1971 Indian Army went in to help them and created Bangladesh.
Major General Shabeg Singh was due to retire in 1977.
In the last years of his service he was investigated for corruption charges and was dismissed from service one day before his date of retirement.
Some years later, the Supreme Court of India declared him 'not-guilty'.
Dishonour, false charges of corruption and dismissal from service was probably the reason why Major General Shabeg Singh sided with Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale.
But he turned his personal revenge into a war against INDIA ? … INDIA that he served all his life.
False charges of corruption could have been because of professional enmity….but turning against one’s own country because of this ….. was that right ?
It was because of Major General Shabeg Singh that Bhindranwale and his terrorist group could create such strong military defences inside the Golden Temple.
After Operation Blue Star was over , dead body of Major General Shabeg Singh was recovered along with the dead body of Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale.
Major General Shabeg Singh fought FOR India as a Maj Gen of Indian Army but ended up fighting AGAINST India.
On The Republic day of 1985, an officer was honoured with the Ashok Chakra, the highest gallantry award other than in the face of enemy.
To receive his medal, this officer reached there on a wheelchair.
This officer was Capt Jasbir Singh Raina
He was honoured for his extraordinary valour and for going beyond the call of duty during Operation Blue Star.
Going back to the time when Maj Gen Kuldip Singh Brar was briefing his men about the mission (explaining what and how Operation Blue Star was to be executed)..........
He explained this was not a mission against any religion or a temple, but a mission against some militants who had occupied the temple. He told his soldiers if any one of them wanted to opt out of this operation (may be because of religious reasons), they could raise their hands. Participating in the operation was completely voluntary.
One hand went up. It belonged to a Sikh officer, Second Lieutenant Jasbir Singh Raina.
Lt Gen Brar allowed him to stay out of the operation.
Second Lieutenant Jasbir Singh Raina stood up and said- Sir, I am NOT opting out of the operation. Rather I want to LEAD the operation. I want to be the first one to enter the Golden Temple to wipe the militants who have defiled and defamed my holiest shrine.
As per his wish he was the first one to go in.......The moment Second Lieutenant Raina entered The Golden Temple with his soldiers, he came under intense fire and was seriously injured.
Inspite of the injuries he continued to lead his me. He was losing blood but still he wanted to continue.
On the orders of his Brigade Commander, his fellow soldiers forcibly removed him from there and took him to hospital.
Later, in the year 2000 he retired as Col. Jasbir Singh Raina, Ashok Chakra. He still cannot walk properly.
Col. Jasbir Singh Raina fought FOR India. For this Sikh, Nation came first, always and everytime. He knew that Harminder Sahib (Golden Temple) and the 10 Gurus are his God.....not a gun wielding "Sant" who had occupied the holiest place of Sikhs with the intention of creating a new country for himself.
When the news about Operation Blue Star spread on 6 June 1984, some Sikh soldiers of Indian Army in different parts of the country deserted the army ( they revolted and left the army). Some even took arms and ammunition with them !!
They took Operation Blue Star as an attack on their faith- Sikhism.
God knows why did they not understand that this Operation was against the terrorists who were using Golden Temple as a shield and had turned this holy shrine into a terrorist den.
Instead of blaming the army for this operation, had they questioned Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale on why should a religious leader ask for a partition of his own country… Why should a “Sant” carry arms inside a temple ….. then Operation Blue Star could have been avoided.
Now Indira Gandhi showed her DIRTY side once again
No one has harmed India the way Indira Gandhi has.
In the army the rule is that army deserts are never allowed to join back.
The logic is-
one who can get carried away by emotions, greed or fear and go against his own army can never be trusted.
A mutineer / rebel cannot be trusted with the security of the nation.
But Indira Gandhi FORCED the Indian Army to take back the deserters.
Sanctity of the army and soldiers was spoiled.
Interfering into the affairs of uniformed forces is a sin and a crime…..but Indira Gandhi knew no limits.
Four months later, on 31 October 1984 Indira Gandhi was killed by two of her bodyguards as a revenge against Operation Blue Star. These two bodyguards happened to be Sikhs- Satwant Singh and Beant Singh.
Two days after her death, on 1 November 1984, supports of Congress Party and Indira Gandhi went on a rampage in Delhi killing any and every Sikh that they saw.
This was again a revenge against killing of Indira Gandhi by Sikh bodyguards.
Some people call this as “Sikh Riots”.
But this was not a riot.
This was a MASSACRE. This was Homicide.
Riot is – when two groups of people clash and kill each other.
On 1 Nov 1984, the Sikhs were unarmed. They did not clash with anyone. They were just killed and killed mercilessly.
Around 500 Indians were killed..........all for a lady's lust for power and her willingness to resort to any means right or wrong.
On 31 December 1984, the ‘yes men’ and sycophants of Congress Party made Rajiv Gandhi the Prime Minister of India.
His only qualification to be the Prime Minister of the largest democracy of the world was--- that he was the son of Indira Gandhi .
After becoming the Prime Minister, instead of feeling sad about the Sikh Massacre Rajiv Gandhi justified it by saying….
He shamelessly said--
जब बड़ा पेड़ गिरता है, तो धरती हिलती है
जब बड़ा पेड़ गिरता है--- meaning a big personality like Indira Gandhi died.
धरती हिलती है—Its okay that some Sikhs were killed. It happens !
This was not the end of pain and destruction…
On 10 August 1986, General Arun Shridhar Vaidya who was the Chief of Indian Army in 1984 was assassinated in Pune again as a revenge against Operation Blue Star.
This series of killings and revenge killings could have been avoided had the politicians and public clearly demarcated between religion and power.
Power has to be “earned”.
Emotions have to be “controlled”.
The ghost of Khalistan still haunts India.
Jai Hind !
Gaurav Negi
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