Blue Star Over Amritsar (The Real Story of June 1984)

Back of the Book The present study is a narration and analysis of events which led to Operation Blue Star in June 1984 and its consequences. It tries to give an insight into the working of the minds of the major personalities involved in that momentous event. The book examines the interrelatedness of the Congress manoeuvres and the murky Akali politics and policies which led to the emergence of Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, a period of confrontation and bloody turmoil in Punjab.

The book looks into the mindless violence unleashed by the militants and equally mindless state terrorism - both contributed to the increasing alienation of the Sikhs from the national mainstream during that period. It also looks at the factors that led to a qualitative difference in militancy in the post-Operation Blue Star phase. It analyses why the people of Punjab were not separatists as they were made out to be by the Congress leadership. The author sees the proliferation of drugs in the state as a direct fallout of the momentous events of 1984. She does not make any value judgements but sees the revival of militancy still a possibility and gives reasons and conditions which could lead to the revival of militancy in the near future.

Introduction The most monstrous event in the history of independent India was the attack mounted by the Indian army on the Golden Temple at Amritsar in the first week of June, known by the euphemism "OPERATION BLUE STAR". The Government took great pains to misinform the public over the reasons which compelled it to take this action, its unfortunate timing, what actually transpired and the loss of life and property it entailed. Till a few days before the action Prime Minister Mrs. Indira Gandhi and Home Minister PC. Sethi had been assuring members of both the houses of Parliament that the had no intention of ordering the police (and much less the Army) to enter the Temple; at the same time it was evident that the Army had been practising with models of the Temple on how to besiege it.

Preface When I wrote the first edition of the book in 1990 I had said: "for most Indians today the Punjab problem began with the emergence of Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, who wanted to kill the Hindus in Punjab and create the state of Khalistan. Nothing could be more remote from reality. Neither he nor the political movement of the 1980s nor the majority of Sikhs at any stage demanded Khalistan. Until Operation Blue Star it was the brainchild of a London based politician, Jagjit Singh Chauhan, who made several efforts to rehabilitate himself in Indian politics, even came to India during the rule of the Janata Party but failed dismally every time and returned to the U.K. in 1980 to embark upon this new venture. Even Bhindranwale remained vague whenever asked about Khalistan. He would say: 'I do not ask for Khalistan. But if the government decides to give it this time we will not say no.' After Operation Blue Star also the demand for an independent Sikh state was not raised. But after the anti-Sikh riots in November 1984, this demand was voiced by some to express their anger and anguish."

**Contents and Sample Pages**