Unveiling The Truth Of Operation Bluestar

[Singh, Mahan]

Unveiling the Truth of Operation Bluestar

Dilpreet Singh

Source: http://www.worldsikhnews.com/18%20June%202...%20Bluestar.htm

FREMONT: Though 24 years have gone by, Sikhs have not forgotten the ignominy hurled at them by the Indian state in the name of Operation Bluestar. Far and wide, Sikhs assemble in Gurdwaras during this week and revisit the truth of the events which has brutally affected the psyche of the Sikhs. Far from Punjab, reiterating the spirit of not to forget, the Executive director of the Sikh Research Institute, Harinder Singh painstakingsly scrutinized the details of the tragic event and narrated that the Indian state did not want to merely arrest some individuals but to break the backbone of the Sikhs. That it was unable to do is a reflection of the commitment and determination of the Sikhs who fought valiantly and laid down their lives.

He said that the propaganda of the government was nothing but a bunch of lies and he dispelled the entire falsehood of the Indian propaganda machinery by resorting to facts and figures in a well prepared and executed presentation at the Gurdwara Fremont here.

Harinder Singh’s opening remarks were quiet telling. He pointed out that the operation was to subvert and suppress a peaceful Sikh-led civil disobedience movement. Of the 38 wanted “terrorists,” 22 were out of the country and the Darbar Sahib was attacked on one the busiest days of the year, the martydom day of Guru Arjan Sahib. A total of nine infantry divisions were utilized, between 70,000 to 150,000 troops, and both chemical poisoning and tanks were used to arrest 38 people? It is unheard of to need any sort of infantry or tanks to arrest anyone. Similarly suspicious is that Punjab was cordoned for five days, meaning no one could enter or leave the state and electricity was turned off.

Harinder Singh also nailed the lie being perpetuated worldwide that it was an off-the-cuff operation. He explained in depth how meticulous preparations by the Indian government were carried out at Chakrata, near Dehradun for 18 months and also that the government had set up what it euphemistically called, the Third Agency to spread misinformation enabling the government to garner the majority Hindu vote.

The fact that the Akal Takht, the Sikh reference library, and 37 other shrines were attacked or burned down only makes one question the government’s true intentions. Operation Blue star’s aftermath was fishy as well; in fact, casualty numbers were reported to be less than 493 by the government whereas the Citizens for Democracy reported 8,000 deaths. According to the Christian Science Monitor, medical workers were threatened to be killed by soldiers if they were found giving any sort of assistance to Sikhs. Harinder identified many officers within the army who found themselves in dissent with the operation and either retired early, returned their medals, or criticized it publicly.

Harinder Singh emphasized the need to observe the commemoration every year and paid tributes to Sant Jarnail Singh Khalsa Bhindranwale.

Harinder Singh provided solid evidence from independent sources, avoiding propaganda totally. Operation Bluestar was ultimately, according to Harinder, not a singular event but rather the culmination of a rehearsed and calculated process to suppress Sikh religion and confidence. Joyce Pettigrew has stated that the army’s intentions were to “attack their [sikhs] heart, to strike a blow at their spirit, and self confidence.” Nevertheless, Harinder urged the Sikh community, especially in Diaspora, to attempt to understand the dynamics between the Sikh population and the Indian state. He suggested that it was imperative to channelize Sikh anger and one such way was to build a monument to Sikh martyrs and continue our struggle for justice.

18 June, 2008

[Bob The Babba]

wow well done harinder singh

[mann_kaum_layee_qurbaan]

the presentation needs to be posted online.

peace.