Senior BJP leader and Maharashtra Minister Girish Mahajan has triggered a political controversy after describing Operation Blue Star as a “black day” and referring to those killed during the military action as “martyrs” while criticising former prime minister Indira Gandhi. Mahajan’s remarks were made during a commemoration event marking the anniversary of Operation Blue Star at the headquarters of Damdami Taksal in Amritsar district last Saturday. He became the first representative of any state government to attend the annual observance, a move that itself attracted attention amid the sensitive historical and political context surrounding the event.

Addressing the gathering, Mahajan said Operation Blue Star was a “black day” for the Sikh community and described those who died during the military operation as martyrs. He further alleged that the Army action ordered by the then Congress government amounted to an attack on a sacred religious site. “For us, Operation Blue Star is a black day. Our brothers and sisters were martyred and killed,” he said. The minister also compared the military operation to the invasion of the Golden Temple by Afghan ruler Ahmad Shah Abdali, drawing parallels between the two events.

He accused Indira Gandhi of sending the Army into Punjab and into the Golden Temple complex, describing the operation as a military assault on a holy shrine. Operation Blue Star was launched by the Indian Army in June 1984 to flush out armed militants led by Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale and their supporters from the Golden Temple complex in Amritsar. The operation remains one of the most contentious chapters in modern Indian history, with differing views on its necessity, execution and consequences continuing to generate debate decades later.

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Mahajan’s comments drew swift criticism from the Congress, which accused the BJP of attempting to revive sensitive issues related to Khalistan and Sikh politics ahead of future elections in Punjab. Opposition leaders questioned the minister’s characterisation of the operation and alleged that the remarks could deepen political divisions. The BJP has not officially distanced itself from Mahajan’s comments, though party leaders have generally maintained that Operation Blue Star was a decision taken by the Congress government of the time.

The controversy has reignited discussion about the legacy of the operation and its enduring impact on Indian politics, Sikh sentiment and national security discourse. The remarks come at a time when political parties are increasingly focused on Punjab’s electoral landscape. As reactions continue to emerge from across the political spectrum, the debate surrounding Mahajan’s statements underscores the lasting sensitivity of Operation Blue Star and its place in India’s political memory.

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