P Chidambaram, a prominent leader of the Congress party, has publicly stated that Operation Blue Star, the military action at Amritsar’s Golden Temple in 1984, was a ‘mistake’ and a ‘wrong way’ to apprehend militants. Chidambaram linked the assassination of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi directly to this decision, noting that she ‘paid with her life’ for it. However, he also broadened the responsibility, characterizing the operation’s outcome as a result of ‘cumulative decisions’ made by the army, police, intelligence, and civil services. Speaking at a literary festival in Kasauli, Chidambaram suggested that the Golden Temple could have been secured without the destructive military involvement seen in 1984, citing subsequent, less intrusive operations as proof. He further contended that the primary issue facing Punjab today is its economic condition, arguing that the demand for Khalistan has largely subsided. The 1984 operation aimed to remove Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale and his followers, leading to damage to the Akal Takht and escalating tensions.
