Pro Khalistan Slogans, Bhindranwale Posters Mark Operation Blue Star Anniversary At Golden Temple

Amritsar : Pro Khalistan slogans were raised and posters of Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale were displayed inside the Golden Temple complex on Friday as Sikh groups and devotees gathered to observe the 42nd anniversary of Operation Blue Star. The day also marks the death anniversary of Bhindranwale, who was killed during the Indian Army operation in June 1984.

Thousands of people visited the Golden Temple and the Akal Takht to pay tribute to those who lost their lives during Operation Blue Star. During the commemorative events, a section of attendees raised slogans in support of Khalistan and carried posters bearing Bhindranwale’s image.

Operation Blue Star was launched by the Indian Army between June 1 and June 10, 1984, to remove armed militants who had taken positions inside the Golden Temple complex. The operation led to heavy casualties and significant damage to the Akal Takht, becoming one of the most controversial and emotionally charged events in independent India’s history.

More than four decades later, the operation continues to evoke strong emotions across sections of the Sikh community. For many, the anniversary is a day of remembrance for those who died during the military action. Bhindranwale, in particular, remains a deeply polarising figure revered by many supporters as a defender of Sikh rights, while others view him through the lens of the militancy that engulfed Punjab during the 1980s.

Security arrangements were tightened in and around the Golden Temple ahead of the anniversary, with authorities maintaining a close watch to ensure the observance remained peaceful. The annual commemoration once again highlighted how the legacy of Operation Blue Star continues to shape political and religious discourse in Punjab, even 42 years after the operation took place.

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