On October 31, 1984, Indira was assassinated by two of her Sikh bodyguards, which led to mobs going on the rampage, killing 2,146 people in Delhi alone (1984 anti-Sikh riots).
June 1, the day Punjab votes in the last phase of the Lok Sabha election for its all 13 seats happens to be the anniversary of two pivotal events that have influenced the recent history and politics of the state.
June 1, 1984: Operation Blue Star
June 1 will be the 40th anniversary of the beginning of Operation Blue Star, the Indian Army operation to flush out Khalistani militants from the Golden Temple in Amritsar. The assault on the holiest shrine of the Sikhs triggered a chain of bloody events including the assassination of India’s Prime Minister by her own Sikh bodyguards, and unprecedented organised violence against members of the community in Delhi and other places.
How Did The Op Blue Star Unfold?
Indira Gandhi authorised the military action at the Golden Temple in mid-May, 1984. By May 29, Army troops and Para commandos had arrived in Amritsar to flush out militant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale and his followers who had set up base in the temple. The operation lasted until June 10. The Akal Takht, the temporal seat of the Sikhs, was destroyed in the operation. Army reports listed 554 deaths, including 83 soldiers, but actual casualties were likely much higher, with many pilgrims among the victims. Bhindranwale was killed in the operation.
The Fallout
On October 31, 1984, Indira was assassinated by two of her Sikh bodyguards, which led to mobs going on the rampage, killing 2,146 people in Delhi alone (1984 anti-Sikh riots). This remains a potent factor in Punjab’s politics even today. Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal has been showing a picture of the damaged Akal Takht at every election rally in an attempt to whip up anger against the Congress.
June 1, 2015: Holy Book stolen
In October 2015, torn pages from what was believed to be the stolen Guru Granth Sahib were discovered outside the Bargari gurdwara in Faridkot. Extensive searches were carried out, including draining a large water body behind the gurdwara, but it was not found. This led to a sharp escalation of unrest, and two protesters were killed in police firing at Behbal Kalan. More than 100 incidents of sacrilege have been reported over the last few years, some of which have led to deadly lynchings of the alleged accused.
The Fallout
The issue of sacrilege (the violation or injurious treatment of a sacred object, site or person) has been extremely sensitive, and has left a significant mark on the politics of the state since 2015. The issue still remains sensitive, with ongoing political repercussions. In 2022, the Punjab Assembly passed a Bill that provides for life imprisonment for sacrilege of the Guru Granth Sahib and other religious texts.
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