Punjab BJP pays tributes to those killed in Operation Bluestar, then delete Facebook post

The Punjab BJP has deleted a social media post in which it paid tribute to "martyrs" of Operation Bluestar, the Army operation carried out in June 1984 to flush out armed militants from the Golden Temple.

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They described it as a "dark and painful chapter in Indian history".

The post on X was shared on Sunday but was taken down later without assigning any reason. In the post, the Punjab BJP condemned the then Congress government for "attacking the Golden Temple" and expressed solidarity with the families of those who lost their lives.

The post, which has now been deleted, read, "June 1, 1984's 'Saka Neela Tara.' A humble tribute to all the martyrs of the day one of the attack on the Darbar Sahib by the Congress government." The BJP had also shared pictures of the damage suffered by the Akal Takht, the highest temporal seat of the Sikhs, and an armored vehicle with deflated tires. The post, which was also shared on Facebook, was deleted a few hours later.

Meanwhile, officiating Jathedar of Akal Takht, Giani Kuldip Singh Gargaj has appealed to the Sikh community to commemorate the first week of June, which he described as 'Shaheedi Hafta' (martyrdom week), with the "spirit of Panthic unity and pay respectful homage to the martyrs."

In a statement, Gargaj stated, "In June 1984, when Sikh devotees had gathered to observe the martyrdom day of the fifth Guru, Guru Arjan Dev, the then Congress-led government launched a military assault using tanks, artillery, and bullets on the central Sikh religious place, Sachkhand Sri Harmandar Sahib, and Sri Akal Takht Sahib." He said, "The Sikh community can never forget the military attack of June 1984." "The first week of June each year is a deeply emotional and solemn time for the 'Panth,' when martyrs are remembered," he said.

The jathedar urged that from June 1 to 6, special 'Gurmat Samagams' (religious congregations), lectures, and seminars should be organized globally by Sikhs. He also instructed all gurdwara management committees to hold special Sri Akhand Path Sahib recitations and invite historians and preachers to gurdwaras to educate 'sangat' (congregation) about the events of June 1984 and November 1984 (anti-Sikh riots). With PTI inputs.