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Home / IAS Preparation / Operation Blue Star

Operation Blue Star: Background, Key Facts, Criticisms & More | UPSC Notes

Last Updated on Sep 24, 2024
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Operation Blue Star was an operation conducted by the Indian Armed forces that took place in 1984 in the state of Punjab. The operation started on 1 June 1984 when the Indian armed forces fired into various buildings in the Golden Temple Complex which resulted in the deaths of multiple civilians. The Operation took place after the Indian government led by PM Indira Gandhi rejected the proposal of the Anandpur resolution put forward by JS Bhindranwale who wanted the Government to pass the same and thus agree to the formation of a state of Khalistan in India for Sikhs among other demands. 

Topics are related to important topics related to Indian internal security form an important part of the UPSC Exam under the syllabus of the General Studies (GS-3) paper of the UPSC Mains Exam. 

This article on Testbook will discuss in a detailed way the background of Operation Blue Star, its purpose, history, reasons, responses, significance, aftermath, etc which will be helpful for UPSC exam preparation. The UPSC aspirants can also take the help of Testbook’s UPSC Online Coaching to boost their UPSC Exam preparation!

GS Paper

General Studies Paper III

Topics for UPSC Prelims

Defence Reforms in India, Indian National Army (INA)

Topics for UPSC Mains

Impact on Indian Politics, Role of Indian Army

What is Operation Blue Star?

Operation Blue Star was a controversial Indian Armed Forces operation conducted between June 1-10, 1984. This was to remove Sikh militant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale and his followers from the buildings of the Golden Temple. The Golden temple is considered the holiest site of Sikhism, in Amritsar, Punjab. The operation resulted in significant casualties on both sides and remains a sensitive topic in Indian history.

Background of Operation Blue Star

Operation Blue Star was ordered by the then Prime Minister of India, Smt. Indira Gandhi with an aim to take control of the Harmandir Sahib Complex in Amritsar, also popularly known as the Golden Temple which is a holy shrine of the Sikhs. 

  • Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale wanted the Government of India to pass the Anandpur Resolution, which sought the formation of a separate state of Khalistan for Sikhs among other demands. 
  • By 1982, the radical leader Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale had managed to gain enough support for his cause and by the mid next year, he had set up a base inside the Golden Temple complex, with ammunition as well as his followers. 
  • It was not easy for the armed forces to take back control of the Golden Temple from armed militants and preserve its sanctity at the same time. 
  • After nearly a year of consultations and negotiations, then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi decided that the only option left was to carry out a military operation which led to Operation Blue Star.

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Key Facts of Operation Blue Star

Operation Blue star consisted of a two-stage operation: the first one was known as Operation Metal, which was restricted to the elimination of the armed militants present inside the Golden Temple complex. This was followed by another operation called Operation Woodrose, which was carried out across the state to ensure that all suspects were either captured or killed. Following was the turn of events in the operation Blue Star:

  • The Golden Temple complex, or commonly the Harmandir Sahib, is a revered religious site for Sikhs and is considered the holiest shrine in the Sikh religion.
  • In 1984, a group of militants led by Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale took refuge inside the complex, along with a large number of armed supporters around him.
  • Operation Blue Star, which began on June 3, 1984, involved the deployment of thousands of Indian Army troops, tanks, as well as artillery around the Golden Temple complex. 
  • Operation Blue Star was commanded by Lt. General Kuldip Singh Brar, operating under General Sundarji.
  • On 3rd June, a 36-hour curfew was imposed in Punjab, detaching the state from all modes of communication, electricity, and transport. 
  • Thousands of Sikhs had gathered inside the complex of the Golden Temple to celebrate the martyrdom anniversary of Guru Arjan Dev, however, they all were trapped inside the Gurudwara after the said curfew was imposed on 3rd June.
  • The Indian Armed Forces stormed the Harmandir Sahib complex on the night of June 5, and operation Blue Star lasted for another 5 days, during which heavy gunfire and explosions rocked and affected the complex, causing significant damage to the temple and surrounding buildings.
  • The Akal Takht was heavily equipped with sandbags and gun emplacements in its windows and arches from where the dissidents were able to fire at any commandos who made their way in front of the Gurudwara.
  • The forces had full control of Harmandir Sahib by the morning of June 7. Sikh leaders JS Bhindranwale and Shabeg Singh were killed in the operation.

Operation Blue Star cleared terrorists from the Golden Temple compound but it received backlash from the Sikh community worldwide. 

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Aftermath of Operation Blue Star

The operation was considered to be a controversial one as it had severe ramifications for many sections. In the long term, the Sikh community became more assertive about their identity and their place in Indian society. However, there was a series of violence across the country against Sikh people immediately after the incident. 

  • In 1985, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee filed a damages suit for Rs 1000 crore in relation to Operation Blue Star. 
  • Operation Blue Star has been the subject of several inquiry commissions and investigations, including the 1984 Misra Commission and the 2005 Nanavati Commission, both of which sought to uncover the events leading up to the operation, deaths, and its aftermath. 
  • The aftermath of Operation Blue Star also saw an increase in militant activities as well as violence in Punjab, leading to a decade-long insurgency followed by a brutal crackdown by the Indian security forces.
  • The operation sparked widespread protests and anger among the Sikh community in India as well as abroad, who viewed it as an attack on their religious and cultural identity.
  • Prime Minister Indira Gandhi who gave a nod to Operation Blue Star was assassinated by her Sikh bodyguards later in the year. 
  • The 1984 Sikh Riots broke out, which lasted for 3 days and led to a number of deaths which is estimated by various independent sources at around 8,000-16,000. 
  • In 1986, the Chief of Army Staff at the time of the operation- General AS Vaidya was assassinated by Sikh militants in revenge.
  • The bombing of Air India Flight 182 from Canada to Delhi in 1985 is believed to have been another act of revenge for Operation Blue Star.
  • Many Sikh army men in the Indian Army mutinied because of the operation. Many Sikhs resigned from administrative positions in the government.
  • On July 24, 1985, the then-Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and Punjabi Akali leader Harchand Singh Longowal signed the Rajiv–Longowal Accord or simply, the Punjab accord.

Read about the Armed Forces Tribunal here. 

Rajiv-Longowal Accord

PM Rajiv Gandhi initiated negotiations with the Akali leaders in the belief that a settlement with them would provide a lasting solution to the Punjab problem. Finally, in Aug 1985, Rajiv Gandhi and Longowal signed the Rajiv-Longowal, or commonly the Punjab Accord. 

  • Under the agreement, it was agreed that Chandigarh would be transferred to Punjab.
  • A commission was sought to be constituted which would then determine what Hindi-speaking territories would be transferred from Punjab to Haryana.
  • An independent tribunal was to be set up which would adjudicate the river water dispute. 
  • Elections for the state assembly as well as the national parliament were to be held in September 1985. 
  • It stated that merit will remain the sole criterion for enlistment in the Indian army and except for the Sikh regiments, it would be open for all sections of the society. 
  • Compensation was sought to be provided to the families of the innocent persons killed in agitation or any related action after 1st August 1982.
  • Jurisdiction of the Rangnath Mishra Commission enquiring into the 1984 Delhi riots was extended to Bokaro and Kanpur. 
  • The part of the Anandpur Sahib Resolution dealing with the Centre and State relations will be referred to the Sarkaria commission. 
  • The Central Government was to take steps to promote the Punjabi language. 
  • An All-India Gurdwara Act was sought for structured governance of the Sikh shrines in India.

Study Internal Security Forces in India and their Mandate here. 

Criticisms Against Operation Blue Star

Criticisms against Operation Blue Star include:

  • Many critics argue that the operation was carried out during a significant Sikh religious event. A large number of Sikh worshippers were present in the Golden Temple complex. They believe this was insensitive and disrespectful.
  • Critics claim that the Indian government imposed strict media censorship during and after the operation. This limited the flow of information and prevented accurate reporting of the events. This raised concerns about transparency and accountability.
  • There were allegations of human rights violations during the operation. Critics argue that the Indian army used excessive force, resulting in the loss of civilian lives. They claim that innocent pilgrims were trapped inside the temple and became casualties of the military action.
  • Some critics argue that the operation failed to distinguish between Sikh militants and innocent civilians. They believe that the military action targeted the entire Sikh community. This led to resentment and a sense of collective punishment.
  • Critics question the strategy and tactics employed by the Indian army during the operation. They argue that the military underestimated the fortifications of the Sikh militants.
  • Critics argue that the Indian government did not recognize the soldiers who participated in the operation. They believe that the sacrifices made by the soldiers were not adequately acknowledged.

Conclusion

Operation Blue Star was aimed at neutralizing militant Sikh preacher Jarnail Singh Bhindrawale and his band of armed supporters ensconced in the Golden Temple complex in Amritsar. The Indian Army was even successful in doing so in a matter of days but the operation carried great ramifications as it led to the assassination of the Prime Minister of India and widespread riots in 1984. The Sikh community worldwide grew critical of Operation Blue Star and it further gave rise to Sikh militancy in the name of the terrorist Khalistan movement. 

Read about Terrorism here. 

Key Takeaways for UPSC Aspirants

  • Context and Background: Operation Blue Star was an Indian military operation launched in June 1984 to flush out the militant leader Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale along with his loyalists from the Golden Temple complex at Amritsar in the Punjab state.
  • Escalating Militancy: The operation was prompted by increasing violence and surging demands for an independent Sikh state, Khalistan. Bhindranwale had entrenched himself in the complex of the Golden Temple and turned it into a command center for his activities.
  • Military Action: Led by Major General Kuldip Singh Brar, under orders by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, from June 1 to June 8, 1984 with widespread tank and artillery cover and over one hundred thousand troops, whose aim was to flush out militants from the complex.
  • Outcome and Casualties: Bhindranwale, and his followers, including hundreds of innocent civilians were killed. Official estimates claimed that casualties were in the hundreds while reports are seen to be much higher. Akal Takht was also badly damaged apart from other portions of Golden Temple.
  • Aftermath: Operation Blue Star led to rampant anger and hatred amongst Sikhs everywhere around the globe. Weeks after the operation, Sikhs assassinated Indira Gandhi, the Prime Minister of India, on 31 October 1984, by their very own Sikh security personnel at her residence. Anti-Sikh riots quickly flared all over India.
  • Effect on Sikh Community: The operation and the later events created and spread the gap between the Sikh masses and the government, which led to years of unrest and insurgency in the state of Punjab.
  • Political Aftermath: As such, there were political fallouts that lowered the support from Sikhs towards the Congress party and further increases in militant activities in Punjab in the late 1980s and the first half of the 1990s.
  • Legacy: Bluestar is one of those "untouchable chapters" in India's history, where the names are mentioned time and again in debates on religious conflicts, state power, and impacts of counter-insurgency operations.

UPSC Previous Year Questions

Q1. Religious indoctrination via digital media has resulted in Indian youth joining ISIS. What is ISIS and its mission? How can ISIS be dangerous to the internal security of our country? (UPSC CSE Mains 2015)

Q2. The scourge of terrorism is a grave challenge to national security. What solutions do you suggest to curb this growing menace? What are the major sources of terrorist funding? UPSC CSE Mains 2017)

Q3. Analyze the complexity and intensity of terrorism, its causes, linkages and obnoxious nexus. Also, suggest measures required to be taken to eradicate the menace of terrorism. (UPSC CSE Mains 2021)

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Operation Blue Star FAQs

The main provisions of the Anandpur Sahib Resolution were to limit Centre’s jurisdiction to defense, foreign affairs, communications, and currency and to bring all of the world's gurdwaras under one banner in order to make Sikh religious procedures and proceedings uniform around the world, eliminate illiteracy, social inequalities, creating a new all-India gurudwara law among others. 

Regionalism is a philosophy that aims to provide people in a regional area with more political power and self-determination. The term focuses on the progress of the political and social system based on a region, enhancing its economic interests, gaining strength, and aiming to strengthen the consciousness of a distinct region with a uniform population.

Though the sanctity of the Golden Temple was restored and militants and arms were eliminated from the shrine, the operation was heavily criticized by many Sikhs. A few months later, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was assassinated by two of her Sikh bodyguards for permitting the operation.

Operation Blue Star was sanctioned by the then Prime Minister of India, Mrs. Indira Gandhi. The Operation was carried out by the Indian Army under the command of Lt. General Kuldip Brar. 

Operation Blue Star was the codename of a military operation that was carried out by the Indian Army between 1 and 10 June 1984 in order to remove Damdami Taksal leader Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale and his supporters from the Golden Temple Complex and retain control of the same. 
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