Mumbai, June 9 (PTI) Maharashtra minister and BJP leader Girish Mahajan sparked a political storm by calling Operation Blue Star a “black day” and equating the 1984 Army action to an invasion by Afghan ruler Ahmad Shah Abdali, with opposition parties raising demand for his sacking.
The opposition slammed Mahajan for “glorifying” militants and insulting the armed forces, with leaders questioning whether the ruling BJP endorses views that undermine the integrity of the nation and the sacrifices of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and military leadership.
Mahajan became the first representative of any state government to attend the Operation Blue Star anniversary commemoration at the Damdami Taksal headquarters in Amritsar last Saturday.
“For us, Operation Blue Star is a black day. Our brothers and sisters were martyred and killed,” he said while addressing the gathering in Amritsar.
Terming Operation Blue Star a “military attack” on the Sikh community’s holy shrine, Mahajan alleged that then PM Indira Gandhi had forcibly sent the Army into Punjab and inside the sacred complex.
“It was a military attack on our holy shrine. Indiraji forcibly sent them (the Army) to Punjab and into our sacred place,” he said.
Drawing a parallel with Abdali’s invasion of the Golden Temple, Mahajan said the attack on the holy Sikh shrine in 1984 had caused deep pain to the community.
He further alleged that Sikhs were brutally killed and claimed that those responsible were never punished.
“Such a major tragedy took place. I would not call it an accident, but a deliberate act in which so many of our brothers and sisters were killed. Even after that, nobody was punished,” Mahajan said.
Operation Blue Star was a military operation by armed forces conducted between June 1 and 10,1984, with the stated objective of removing Damdami Taksal leader Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale and militants from the buildings of the Golden Temple.
The operation marked the beginning of the insurgency in Punjab.
The remarks triggered backlash from Congress and Shiv Sena (UBT), with senior leaders demanding Mahajan’s sacking from the cabinet and BJP.
Maharashtra Congress president Harshwardhan Sapkal said the minister should apologise to the armed forces for insulting them, accusing him of attempting to glorify Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale.
In a statement, Sapkal said Operation Blue Star was a necessary military action against armed Khalistani militants and was not directed against any religion.
He alleged that Mahajan’s comments questioned the sacrifices made by those who acted to safeguard the country’s unity and integrity.
Sapkal said Mahajan’s remarks undermined sacrifices made by Indira Gandhi and former Army chief General Arun Kumar Vaidya, who were assassinated after the 1984 operation.
“Whether Mahajan would also criticise National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, who was associated with security operations linked to the period, and whether he would seek Doval’s removal from office?” he asked.
He sought clarification from Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on whether Mahajan’s remarks reflected the Maharashtra government’s official position.
Sapkal further asked whether PM Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and Fadnavis agree with Mahajan’s views.
“If not, they should publicly condemn the remarks and apologise to the nation and the armed forces,” he added and demanded action against the minister by the BJP leadership.
Congress leaders also accused the BJP of raising the Khalistan issue ahead of elections in Punjab.
Congress Legislature Party leader Vijay Wadettiwar defended Indira Gandhi’s decision to order the military action, saying it was necessary to keep India united.
“Had that decision not been taken during Indira ji’s tenure, perhaps India would have been divided into two parts and the concept of an undivided India would not have remained,” Wadettiwar said.
He said the (Operation Blue Star) decision must be viewed in the context of the circumstances prevailing in the country at the time.
“People make comments without understanding the subject. They want to say something despite having no knowledge about it,” he said.
Slamming Mahajan, Congress spokesperson Sachin Sawant accused the BJP of adopting a contradictory stand on the issue for political gains.
“Mahajan lacked understanding of history and sensitive national issues. The BJP has begun raising the Khalistan issue ahead of elections in Punjab.
Joining the chorus against Mahajan, Sanjay Raut said if PM Modi and Fadnavis have any sense of patriotism, they should kick Mahajan out of the cabinet and the BJP.
Should Operation Sindoor be termed as a black day? he asked.
“You are a traitor if you consider it (Operation Blue Star) a black day for an act undertaken to maintain the integrity and protection of the country for which a prime minister (Indira Gandhi) sacrificed life, waged a battle, and defeated terrorism to ensure that Punjab stays in the country,” Raut said.
The Rajya Sabha member asked whether Mahajan doubted Gandhi’s sacrifice.
“Her fight was for the country. Former army chief Gen Arun Vaidya sacrificed his life for it, so did former Punjab chief minister Beant Singh and thousands of people,” Raut added. PTI MR PR NSK
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