Akali Dal Questions Congress Over Op Bluestar Remarks

The Shiromani Akali Dal intensified its criticism of Congress leadership following remarks made by senior party figures regarding Operation Bluestar, the military assault on the Golden Temple complex in Amritsar four decades ago.

Akali Dal spokesperson Arshdeep Singh Kler questioned the sincerity of Congress's stated anguish over the operation, characterizing the military intervention as a deliberate attack targeting the Sikh community and the Sri Akal Takht Sahib, the highest temporal seat of Sikhism.

The sharp rebuke reflects the enduring sensitivity surrounding Operation Bluestar, the June 1984 military offensive that remains a defining moment in Sikh history and continues to influence political discourse in Punjab and across India's Sikh-majority regions.

The exchange underscores persistent tensions between the Congress party and Sikh organizations over the historical narrative and political responsibility for the operation, which resulted in significant casualties and structural damage to the revered Golden Temple complex.

The Akali Dal's statement signals the party's determination to keep the issue in public focus and challenge what it perceives as attempts by political rivals to downplay or reframe the significance of the event for the Sikh community.