BJP Offers Tribute to ‘Operation Blue Star’ Martyrs, Later Deletes Post

To mark the 41st anniversary of ‘Operation Blue Star’ at Darbar Sahib (Golden Temple) complex, on 1 Jun, the Panjab unit of Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) shared a post on X. The post in Panjabi read, 'June 1, 1984 Saka Neela Tara. A humble tribute to all the martyrs who lost their lives on the first day of the attack carried out by the Congress government on the Darbar Sahib.' Saka is a Sikh term meaning a historic event, especially tragedy involving valor and sacrifice. The tribute was political because the BJP blamed the Indian National Congress for the event. The image accompanying the tweet showed army tanks inside the Darbar Sahib premises and a picture of the damaged Akal Takht (Eternal Throne, AT). A few hours later, the BJP removed the post. In Aug 2023, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had also condemned the army attack on Darbar Sahib in Parliament. This is an attempt by BJP to ingratiate itself to Sikhs but questions remain on why it withdrew the post. The officiating AT Jathedar (leader) Giani Kuldip Singh Gargajj appealed to Sikhs to commemorate the first week of June, as Shaheedi Hafta (martyrdom week). On 27 May, Giani Gargajj met parallel acting Jathedar AT Dhyan Singh Mand who was appointed by the Sarbat Khalsa (Plenary Meet of the Khalsa) in 2015. Giani Gargajj said there is ‘no place for factionalism’ in Panth (Sikh Collective). On 29 May, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) also met with the management committee of Takht (throne) Sri Patna Sahib to resolve their issues and will soon present a report. SGPC member Gurcharan Singh Grewal said, 'The aim is to restore harmony through dialogue.' However, the meeting between SGPC and Harnam Singh Khalsa, chief of Damdami Taksal (Sikh seminary) on 2 Jun has ended in a deadlock. Khalsa argues that Gargajj's appointment violated Sikh maryada (religious protocol) and has said he will not allow Giani Gargajj to deliver the traditional message to the Sikhs on 6 Jun from the AT (earlier coverage).