• Source:JND
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Today marks the 40th anniversary of the beginning of Operation Blue Star, where Khalistani separatist leader Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale was killed along with his aides inside the premises of Golden Temple in Amritsar. Members of the Sikh Community gathered at Golden Temple, popularly known as Harmandir Sahib, and raised slogans hailing the radical leader Bhindranwale. Pro-Khalistan slogans were also raised by the people who participated in the event.

Bhindranwale was the head of the radical Sikh outfit Damdami Taksal.

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Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) chief Simranjit Singh Mann, who represented Sangrur Lok Sabha constituency after the 2022 by-election, also reached the Golden Temple to participate in the demonstration. He was seen standing among people flaunting posters of Bhindranwale and raising pro-Khalistan slogans.

Meanwhile, security has been beefed up across Punjab as the military operation against the radical preacher completes 40 years. Special security arrangements have been put in place in Amritsar to get rid of any untoward incidents. "Security arrangements have been made here...Forces have been deployed and barricading has been done. Any untoward incident will be monitored,” Amritsar SSP SS Randhawa Singh said.

In June 1984, the Indian Army executed the operation to remove Sikh militants, headed by Bhindranwale, from the Golden Temple. The operation resulted in the deaths of hundreds of Sikh militants and civilians, along with 87 soldiers. Significant damage was inflicted on parts of the Golden Temple, one of the holiest sites in the Sikh faith.

The Operation was heavily criticised. Months later, Indira Gandhi was assassinated by two of her Sikh bodyguards at her New Delhi residence on October 31, 1984.

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In the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections, Sarabjeet Singh Khalsa, son of Beant Singh (one of Indira Gandhi's bodyguards) registered victory from the Faridkot constituency with a margin of 70,053 votes over Aam Aadmi Party leader Karamjit Singh Anmol.