Controversy Over BJP Leader’s Remark on ‘Operation Blue Star’

June

2026

On 6 Jun, Maharashtra (MH) minister and senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Girish Mahajan triggered a political controversy when he described ‘Operation Blue Star’ (OBS) as a 'black day', criticized former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, and compared the 1984 Army action at Darbar Sahib (Golden Temple) to the 18^th century invasions of Panjab by Afghan ruler Ahmad Shah Durrani aka Abdali. Mahajan, a close aide of MH Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, had appeared at the OBS 42^nd anniversary at the Damdami Taksal (Sikh seminary) headquarters Gurdwara Gurdarshan Parkash, Mehta Chowk, Amritsar district, as an official representative of the BJP. Mahajan’s remarks drew sharp criticism from opposition parties in MH with leaders of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) saying the minister had undermined India's army. They questioned the BJP's silence over the matter and demanded action against the minister. Indian National Congress (NC) also said Mahajan had insulted the armed forces. INC Panjab chief Amarinder Singh Raja Warring alleged that the BJP routinely brands its political opponents as anti-national but the episode had fully exposed the party’s 'double standards.' He asked BJP to not 'play with fire' and warned the BJP against 'attempting to revive divisive and sectarian sentiments for electoral advantage'. Senior BJP leader and India’s Home Minister Amit Shah chose to distance himself from the statement by calling it Mahajan’s ‘personal opinion’. Shah and BJP national president Nitin Nabin met BJP Panjab leaders and said recovery of Panjab from its current financial decline was the top priority for the union government and party. Shah said that going forward, all strategies, policy, and politics of the BJP shall be aligned to this goal. Shah added, 'Panjab cannot be left to its fate, it has to be saved and restored to its old glory.' The BJP has launched an aggressive outreach campaign focusing on Other Backward Classes (OBCs), a demographic that could prove decisive in shaping the state's future political equations. On 13 Jun, the BJP convened a large meeting with OBC groups in Abohar, Fazilka district, the hometown of senior leader and former BJP Panjab president Sunil Jakhar. BJP Panjab chief Kewal Singh Dhillon said BJP will field former Panjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh in the campaign for the 2027 Panjab Assembly election (earlier coverage).