Operation Blue Star Anniversary: Pro-Khalistan Slogans Raised at Golden Temple

Visuals from outside the gurdwara showed many holding banners & placards with 'Khalistan Zindabad' written on them.

Pro-Khalistani groups outside Golden Temple on 6 June 2022.

(Photo: Sandeep Singh/The Quint)

Pro-Khalistan slogans were raised and tributes were paid to the "martyrs" of Operation Blue Star at Amritsar's Golden Temple on Monday, 6 June, during an event observing the 38th anniversary of the incident.

Visuals from outside the gurdwara showed many holding banners and placards with 'Khalistan Zindabad' written on them. Several people also wore t-shirts with the images of controversial Sikh extremist leader Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, among others, printed on them.

The group also included several activists of the Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) led by former MP Simranjit Singh Mann, who was present at the spot.

The Sikh Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC) said that it offered tributes to the "martyrs" of Operation Blue Star.

Pitch To Fight Drug Menace, Promote Sikhism

Speaking to news agency ANI, SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami said that the Sikh Jatha Sanstha paid tributes to martyrs Amrik Singh Khalsa, Baba Thara Singh, and General Shabeg Singh, along with Bhindranwale.

"Now the most important thing is that all Sikhs should become 'Amritdhari'. We will organize Gatka classes from this month in border villages," Dhami told ANI.

The SGPC also displayed the bullet-ridden holy 'Saroop' (volume) of the Guru Granth Sahib. The 'Saroop', which was installed in the sanctum sanctorum at that time, was hit by a bullet during the military action in 1984.

Pro-Khalistani groups outside Golden Temple on 6 June 2022.

(Photo: Sandeep Singh/The Quint)

Jathedar of Akal Takht Gyani Harpreet Singh, in his address, said Sikh preachers and scholars stressed the need to visit the border areas to promote Sikhism. He also talked about the need to fight the drug menace, which has afflicted many youths.

Singh added that "Sikhs are facing a lot of difficulties" which he claimed is weakening the community's social, economic, and religious condition. He further alleged that "Christianity is being spread across villages of Punjab to weaken the Sikhs," news agency ANI reported.

The Jathedar appealed to the Sikh community, "especially those in border areas to spread & strengthen Sikhism." He also noted that religious weakness will directly lead to weak socio-economic conditions, which will lead to the community's "political weakening," the report added.

Operation Blue Star

In June 1984, Operation Blue Star – a militarised operation against militants demanding the establishment of Khalistan as a separate autonomous a Sikh homeland – was carried out at Amritsar's Golden Temple.

For nearly five days, the Indian Army used heavy artillery, tanks and helicopters to remove Bhindranwale who was spearheading the movement from within the premises of the gurdwara.

Bhindranwale was killed by the Indian Army during the operation.

(With inputs from PTI and ANI).