Important Facts For Prelims
37th Anniversary of Operation Blue Star
- 07 Jun 2021
- 3 min read
Why in News
Recently, the 37th anniversary of Operation Blue Star was observed by the country.
Key Points
- Operation Blue Star:
- It is a code name given to an Indian Military Operation to remove the separatists who were hidden inside the Golden Temple at Amritsar on 5th June 1984.
- The operation was ordered by the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, primarily to take control of the Harmandir Sahib Complex in Amritsar (popularly known as the Golden Temple).
- The Indian military entered into the premises of the temple to drive out the Sikh extremist religious leader, Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale and his armed followers.
- The operation had two components to it, Operation Metal which was the invasion on the temple complex and Operation Shop which was confined to the countryside of the state.
- This Operation helped in eliminating Khalistani terrorism.
- It resulted in the death of Bhindranwale.
- Few months post-Operation Blue Star, Indira Gandhi was assassinated by her Sikh bodyguards, followed by severe anti-Sikh riots in Delhi.
- Background:
- Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale wanted the Indian government to pass the Anandpur Resolution, and thereby agree to the formation of a separate state of Khalistan for Sikhs.
- Since 1982, this radical leader of Sikhism had managed to gain enough support for his cause and by mid-1983 had set up a base inside the Golden Temple complex, with ammunition and his followers.
- Hence, Operation Blue Star was launched between 1st June and 6th June 1984, with the aim of getting rid of Bhindranwale and his demands.
National Security Guard
- It is a counter-terrorism unit that formally came into existence in 1986 by an act of Parliament- ‘National Security Guard Act, 1986’.
- Its headquarters is located in Manesar, Gurugram.
- The idea behind raising such force came in the aftermath of Operation Blue Star, Akshardham Temple attack and the assassination of former PM Indira Gandhi, for combating terrorist activities with a view to protect states against internal disturbances.
