Former Home Minister and senior Congress leader P. Chidambaram’s statement on the ‘Saka Neela Tara’ incident at Sri Darbar Sahib in June 1984 has created a stir in political and social circles. Chidambaram, while discussing journalist Harinder Baweja’s book ‘They Will Shoot You Madam’ during the Khushwant Singh Sahitya Utsav 2025 in Kasauli, Himachal Pradesh, had said that the military attack on the Darbar Sahib in 1984 was a “wrong action”, and the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi had paid the price for it with her life. According to him, some other method could have been adopted instead of military action to remove Damdami Taksal chief Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale and his supporters from Sri Darbar Sahib from June 1 to June 10, 1984. He cited as an example the 1988 ‘Operation Black Thunder-2’, in which the National Security Guard (NSG) cleared the Sri Darbar Sahib from militants without using the army. He stressed that this decision was not only Indira Gandhi’s, but a joint decision of the army, police, intelligence agencies and the civil administration. He clarified that this action resulted in Indira Gandhi losing her life at the hands of her Sikh bodyguards on 31 October 1984.
Chidambaram’s statement not only sparked controversy within the Congress party, but also drew sharp reactions from the BJP, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, and Sikh intellectuals. The incident has re-examined the long-standing sensitive issues in Indian politics regarding the 1984 massacre.
Why is Congress angry with Chidambaram?
Chidambaram’s statement has sparked sharp reactions within the Congress party. According to party sources, the top leadership of the Congress is “very upset” with Chidambaram’s statement. They believe that senior leaders should refrain from making such public statements that could lead to a political crisis for the party.
Congress leader Rashid Alvi strongly criticized Chidambaram, saying that whether the military attack on Darbar Sahib was right or wrong is a different discussion, but after 50 years, what was the need to drag Indira Gandhi into this controversy?” Alvi questioned the reasons behind Chidambaram’s repeated controversial statements. He also mentioned that criminal cases are pending against Chidambaram, due to which questions are being raised whether there is any external pressure on him. Criticizing Chidambaram, Alvi said that instead of targeting the policies of the BJP, he is highlighting the shortcomings of the Congress, which is surprising.
Impartial intellectuals believe that the background to this resentment towards the Congress is also that the party has always adopted an ambiguous stance on the Darbar Sahib massacre. The party has never officially apologized for the massacre, and Chidambaram’s statement challenges this ambiguous policy of the party.
BJP’s aggressive stance: Occasions The BJP used Chidambaram’s statement as an opportunity to attack the Congress. BJP spokesperson R.P. Singh said, “As a nationalist, I believe that the Blue Star massacre could have been completely avoided. Chidambaram is right. With a strategy like Operation Black Thunder, the goal could have been achieved without harming the sanctity of Sri Darbar Sahib and without losing innocent lives.”
Union Minister Kiren Rijiju also supported Chidambaram’s statement, saying that he is “long overdue for Congress to admit its mistakes.” Rijiju mentioned that Chidambaram had earlier made controversial statements on the 26/11 Mumbai jihadi attacks, where he had said that India could not retaliate against Pakistan due to American and foreign pressure. Rijiju said that Chidambaram’s mischaracterization of the massacre is proof that there have been long-standing flaws in Congress policies.
However, questions have also been raised over the BJP’s response. Former BJP leader Lal Krishna Advani had mentioned in his book ‘My Country, My Life’ that he had advised Indira Gandhi to carry out the massacre in 1984. Despite this, the BJP did not give any explanation on Advani’s claim and used Chidambaram’s statement as a political weapon against the Congress.
Reaction of Sikh institutions and intellectuals: Why is the SGPC’s stance controversial?
The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee termed Chidambaram’s statement as “partial truth”. Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee member and former general secretary Gurcharan Singh Grewal said, “Chidambaram’s statement that the massacre was not only Indira Gandhi’s decision is wrong. The Prime Minister has the authority, and the agencies work on her orders.” Grewal claimed that the Blue Star massacre was a “planned attack” carried out by Indira Gandhi to strengthen her political position.
Grewal further said that the anti-Sikh pogroms in Delhi and other cities after the massacre deeply hurt the Sikh community. He questioned the alleged role of Congress leaders Jagdish Tytler and Sajjan Kumar and demanded that Rahul Gandhi should clarify the issue. The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) considered the massacre an “attack on the Sikh community” rather than a “mistake” and demanded an apology.
However, Grewal’s claim that the massacre was entirely Indira Gandhi’s decision is being disputed by the Sikh community. Chidambaram had clarified that the decision was a joint one, involving the army and civil authorities. Historical records also show that the planning of the massacre involved consultation with several institutions. Grewal’s stance is seen as one-sided by Sikh intellectuals and religious leaders.
of which places the entire responsibility for the massacre solely on Indira Gandhi.
Sikh scholar and historian Dr. Gurdarshan Singh Dhillon, in his writings, considered the massacre to be “an atrocity perpetrated on the Sikhs for political gain” by the Indian state. He was of the opinion that the purpose of the massacre was to eliminate Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, but during this thousands of innocent Sikh devotees lost their lives and Sri Akal Takht Sahib suffered great damage. Dhillon supported Chidambaram’s statement and said that the massacre was indeed a “wrong decision”.
Dr. Harpal Singh Pannu, former professor of Punjabi University, Patiala, described Chidambaram’s statement as “the need of the hour”. According to him, there is a need to accept responsibility for the massacre and establish a dialogue with the Sikh community. Akali Dal (Amritsar) President Simranjit Singh Mann termed Chidambaram’s statement as “political drama”. According to him, both the Congress and the BJP are running away from the responsibility of the massacre. Mann insisted that the planning of the massacre involved Indian state institutions, but the final decision rested with Indira Gandhi. He demanded that the massacre and the anti-Sikh massacre be investigated internationally.
Military attack on Darbar Sahib: Responsibility of the state or the Indira government?
The ideological divide over the responsibility for the military attack on Darbar Sahib is clear. Chidambaram believes that it was a joint operation of the “deep state”, involving the army, intelligence agencies, and the civil administration. Historical documents show that the military and civil authorities of the time played a significant role in the planning of the massacre. But the Badal Akali Dal considers it a political ploy by Indira Gandhi, aimed at reducing the influence of the Akali Dal in Punjab and strengthening the political position of the Congress.
The important question is that if Indira Gandhi was responsible, why did the BJP government not apologize for the massacre in Parliament?
Chidambaram’s statement on the military attack on the Darbar Sahib and its responsibility has opened an old wound in Indian politics. The internal resentment of the Congress, the political opportunism of the BJP, and the anger of Sikh institutions reflect the sensitivity of this issue. Until the Congress or the Indian government officially accepts responsibility for the massacre and apologizes, this issue will remain part of political and social discussions.
