Analysis

Biggest Lie about Bluestar!

There is much being written about Operation Bluestar on its 30th anniversary and after the UK government claimed that British advice was sought by Indira Gandhi before the military assault was launched. Most comments are related to details pertaining to the army action. This is like missing the woods for the trees. The most fundamental truth about Operation Bluestar is either deliberately or otherwise being ignored.

The truth is that Operation Bluestar was unnecessary because Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale had categorically agreed to a settlement acceptable to the Indian government as well as to Harcharan Singh Longowal exactly one month before the military operation. He gave his consent to the terms of agreement to this writer who had intervened after the personal request made to him by Rajiv Gandhi. This is not a new disclosure. I have written about this before and for some curious reason these facts were never questioned but merely ignored. Briefly, this is what transpired.

Jatindra Tuli, a former journalist and colleague, approached me with a request from Rajiv Gandhi for help to achieve a settlement with Bhindrnwle. We met Rajiv Gandhi in the residence of Romi Chopra and discussed the matter. I consented to help Gandhi. I approached my brother General Prikshat Puri who was Engineer-in-Chief in the Indian army for assistance. Bhindrnwale’s elder brother, Captain Harcharan Singh Rode, decorated for valour in the 1965 war, served under him. The Captain’s cooperation was sought and obtained. He personally escorted me from Jalandhar where he was posted to the Golden Temple to meet Bhindranwale.

I bluntly asked Bhindranwale if he wanted Khalistan. He said he had never demanded Khalistan but if it was offered to him on a plate he would not reject it.

The ideologue behind the Khalistan demand was Jagjit Singh Chouhan with whom I had also interacted closely. He also could have been easily handled, but that is a different story.

After an hour long discussion I persuaded Bhindranwale to agree to a settlement the terms of which might be negotiated by Harcharan Singh Longowal also housed in the Golden Temple at that time. I persuaded Bhindranwale to confine himself to spiritual and religious matters pertaining to the Sikh faith. He agreed. Bhindranwale knew after his brother had assured him that I was in a sense speaking for the government. Thereafter I met Longowal and reached agreement on the terms of settlement that were unexceptionable and acceptable to the government. These meetings took place exactly one month before Operation Bluestar.

I returned to Delhi and informed Romi Chopra that I had accomplished the needful and to inform Rajiv Gandhi accordingly. He informed Rajiv Gandhi. But the latter never got back to me. My repeated attempts to contact him were of no avail. Rajiv Gandhi’s conduct left me with a lasting impression that was very poor. Subsequently Operation Bluestar occurred and the tragedy unfolded. I was given to understand that former MP from Amritsar, RL Bhatia had also obtained some kind of assurance from Bhindrnwale. But I could never verify this.

I wrote a detailed version of my experience in the Tribune dated November 2, 2003, and in the Statesman’s Durga Puja Annual Issue of 2003. I never met Captain Harcharan Singh Rode or Romi Chopra since that time. I met Jatindra Tuli a few times. Reporters can approach all three individuals to verify the truth of my version. They can also read the previous newspaper articles for more detailed understanding of what had transpired.

It is futile to delve into the details of the military action in Operation Bluestar. All the arguments about why Operation Bluestar became necessary need to be nailed.

The assumption that Bhindranwale was insisting on Khalistan and rigidly denied any compromise is the biggest lie. What needs investigation is why Indira Gandhi despite having obtained an agreement with Bhindranwale that rendered Operation Bluestar redundant nevertheless launched the military action that led to her own death and to the tragic aftermath. What was her compulsion? Who was advising her?

07-Jun-2014

More by :  Dr. Rajinder Puri

Top | Analysis

Views: 3681      Comments: 4



Comment Rajinder Puri Ji I am much informed by what you have disclosed here. My broader understanding about the matter is like this: BJP was coming to power in Punjab prior to the Bhindranwale episode. I felt Congress in order to block this event created Bhindranwale, who became a Frankenstein later on. Democracy was never there in Congress. It is only a garb. That is why Netaji had to leave Congress and create Forward Block. That is why Jinnah wanted Pakistan. Buta Singh and Rajiv Gandhi were primarily responsible for Babri Masjid affair. LTTE was unnecessarily pampered, which led to Rajib's death. When will our political leaders stop tinkering with democracy? Democracy is a philosophy, a mindset. It has to be handled with care, understanding and commitment. I even tend to feel Narmada dam has contributed towards Maoist phenomenon. Galloping growth will bring other problems in its trail. Hindu rate of growth is socially better. The middle path of Buddhism is right kind of attitude in matters personal as well as socio-political.

Sharbaaniranjan Kundu
13-Jun-2014 00:37 AM

Comment The Nehru-Gandhi family have more skeletons in their closet than can even be counted & thus the gruesome ending for Indira & Rajiv. Why they chose to do all this will remain a mystery forever.

Rati Hegde
08-Jun-2014 22:39 PM

Comment Winning the forth coming elections. She tasted the success after 1971 war and wanted to repeat.
Pls give your opinion.

Jeti
08-Jun-2014 10:12 AM

Comment Ha the wheels churning hidden within wheels and how many people loose their lives for the benefit of few crooks.I heard a similar thing from DrSwamy that Operation Bluestar was entirely unneccessary.Another source from one of the retired army general also hinted that it is the idiotic advice of Gen.Sundarji who was given special charge to tackle the issue and who rushed headlong without understanding the consequences.Unfortunately my countrymen good and evil are all good in burying every conflict under ground and think the problems have gone away.

shiv
07-Jun-2014 23:45 PM




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