Amritsar: Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) member Gurcharan Singh Grewal has responded to recent remarks made by senior Congress leader P. Chidambaram regarding Operation Blue Star, calling his admission that the 1984 military action was a “mistake” a step in the right direction. However, Grewal strongly disagreed with Chidambaram’s suggestion that the operation was not the decision of then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.
Chidambaram, speaking at the Khushwant Singh Literary Festival, described Operation Blue Star as a misstep that cost Indira Gandhi her life. He said it was a poor decision to send the Army into the Golden Temple complex, contrasting it with Operation Black Thunder, which he claimed was handled more sensitively without Army involvement.
Reacting to this, Grewal said, “Acknowledging Operation Blue Star as a mistake is welcome, but distancing Indira Gandhi from the decision is historically inaccurate. It was executed under her leadership and direction.”
Congress Leaders Still Unpunished, Says Grewal
Grewal also used the opportunity to bring attention back to the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, calling them a nationwide massacre and questioning why several Congress leaders accused of inciting violence had never faced justice.
“Sikh blood was spilled not just in Delhi but across India. Yet, those responsible walk free. Some even hold positions of power within the Congress,” he said, referencing figures such as Jagdish Tytler.
He further criticized Rahul Gandhi for what he termed as “symbolic outreach,” pointing to his visits to gurdwaras without offering a direct and public condemnation of leaders accused in the 1984 violence.
“Rahul Gandhi visits gurdwaras and speaks of harmony, but he has never once clearly spoken against Tytler or others. Is that the justice Sikhs should expect?”
Political Implications
The exchange comes at a time when historical grievances continue to shape Sikh political discourse in Punjab and beyond. While ’s comments may be seen as a rare acknowledgment from within the Congress party, Grewal’s response underlines the unresolved anger over the events of 1984.
For the Congress, attempts to reconcile with the Sikh community remain complicated by past associations and the presence of controversial figures within its ranks.
Observers note that while gestures of reflection are important, many in the Sikh community still await formal apologies, legal accountability, and unequivocal political distancing from those tied to the 1984 violence.
