Operation Blue Star.

Operation Blue Star was a military operation carried out by the Indian Army in June 1984 to remove Sikh militants, led by Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, who had taken refuge inside the Golden Temple in Amritsar, Punjab. The operation is one of the most significant and controversial events in modern Indian history.

1. Background to Operation Blue Star:

• Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, a prominent Sikh leader, had gained a significant following during the early 1980s. Initially, he was viewed as a religious leader, but over time, he became increasingly vocal in his demands for greater autonomy for Punjab and the Sikh community.
• Bhindranwale and his followers took refuge in the Golden Temple, the holiest shrine of Sikhism, in Amritsar, where they fortified themselves and began taking up arms to push for the creation of an independent Sikh state called Khalistan.
• Tensions between the militants and the Indian government escalated, and the situation in Punjab became increasingly unstable.

2. The Indian Government’s Decision:

• By early 1984, the Indian government, under Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, felt that Bhindranwale and his followers were threatening national security and the sovereignty of India.
• The government, after trying to resolve the issue through negotiations, decided to take military action to eliminate the militants who had turned the Golden Temple complex into a fortress.
• The operation was named Operation Blue Star, and its primary objective was to remove Bhindranwale and his armed supporters from the Golden Temple, restore order in Punjab, and reassert the authority of the Indian government.

3. Execution of Operation Blue Star:

• The operation began on June 5, 1984, and it was executed by the Indian Army under the leadership of General K. S. Brar. The military launched an assault to capture the militants inside the Golden Temple complex.
• The Indian Army faced fierce resistance from the militants, and the operation led to intense fighting. The temple complex, which includes the Harmandir Sahib (the Golden Temple), was heavily damaged during the operation, as it housed both armed militants and civilians who had been caught up in the conflict.
• Bhindranwale was killed in the operation, but the violence resulted in significant casualties on both sides, including soldiers and civilians. Estimates of the number of deaths vary, but it is believed that several hundred people lost their lives during the operation.

4. Aftermath and Controversy:

• Damage to the Golden Temple: The storming of the Golden Temple, a sacred site for Sikhs, caused deep resentment and anger among the Sikh community, both in India and abroad. The damage to the temple, including the Harmandir Sahib, and the loss of life were seen by many Sikhs as an attack on their religion and culture.
• Political Fallout: The operation had a profound impact on the Indian political landscape. Indira Gandhi, the Prime Minister who ordered the operation, faced intense criticism from the Sikh community and political opponents.
• Assassination of Indira Gandhi: Just a few months after Operation Blue Star, on October 31, 1984, Indira Gandhi was assassinated by her Sikh bodyguards in retaliation for the military action at the Golden Temple. Her assassination led to widespread anti-Sikh riots, particularly in Delhi, resulting in further loss of life and deepening the communal divide.

5. Legacy of Operation Blue Star:

• Divisiveness: Operation Blue Star remains highly controversial. While the government justified the operation as necessary to combat militancy and restore law and order, many people, especially in the Sikh community, viewed it as an unjustified military assault on a sacred place.
• Rise of Militancy: The operation also led to an increase in militancy in Punjab during the 1980s, with the demand for Khalistan gaining more traction. The Sikh diaspora, particularly in countries like Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States, also became more vocal in supporting the demand for a separate Sikh state.
• Impact on Indian Politics: The events surrounding Operation Blue Star, the assassination of Indira Gandhi, and the subsequent violence led to a long period of instability in Punjab and had a lasting impact on Indian politics, especially in terms of its approach to managing religious and ethnic tensions.

6. Other Operations in the Question:

a) Operation Vijay: This operation refers to the 1999 Kargil War between India and Pakistan, not related to the Golden Temple or the events in 1984.

c) Operation Flood: This was a dairy development program launched in 1970 by the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) to increase milk production in India, often referred to as the world's largest rural development program. It is unrelated to the military context.

d) Operation Rahat: This operation took place in 2013 to rescue Indians stranded in Yemen during the Yemen Civil War. It is also unrelated to the Golden Temple incident.

Hence, Option B Is Correct.

Operation Blue Star.

Operation Blue Star (June 1984): Operation Blue Star was a significant and controversial military operation carried out by the Indian Army between June 1 and June 8, 1984, aimed at removing armed Sikh militants who were holed up in the Golden Temple complex in Amritsar, Punjab. The operation was ordered by then-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, in response to the growing insurgency in Punjab led by Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, a Sikh separatist leader who had taken refuge inside the Golden Temple.

The operation involved a full-scale military assault on the sacred Sikh shrine, which resulted in heavy casualties on both sides, including civilians, soldiers, and militants. It also caused significant damage to the Golden Temple complex. The operation’s aftermath created deep resentment among Sikhs, both in India and abroad, due to the perceived desecration of the holiest shrine in Sikhism.

The operation had far-reaching consequences:

1. Political Consequences:

   • The assault on the Golden Temple led to widespread protests and anger among the Sikh community, leading to increased militancy in Punjab.
   • The operation deeply divided Indian society, especially along religious lines. Sikhs were particularly outraged, and the event triggered calls for greater autonomy in Punjab and demands for the creation of an independent Sikh state, Khalistan.

2. Social and Cultural Impact:

   • The operation left a lasting impact on the Sikh community, as many felt that their religious and cultural identity had been attacked.
   • The operation also brought the issue of Sikh separatism to the global stage, with many Sikhs around the world, particularly in the diaspora, expressing solidarity with the militants and calling for justice.

3. Indira Gandhi's Assassination:

   • The operation led to severe backlash against Indira Gandhi. On October 31, 1984, she was assassinated by her Sikh bodyguards in retaliation for the military operation. This event further escalated tensions and led to widespread anti-Sikh riots across India, particularly in Delhi, where thousands of Sikhs were killed.

Other Options:

A) India's first Cricket World Cup victory (1983):
India won the 1983 Cricket World Cup on June 25, 1983. This was a major achievement in Indian sports, but it was not as politically or socially impactful as Operation Blue Star. The victory sparked national pride and is remembered as a historic moment in Indian sports.

C) Launch of Maruti Udyog (February 1981):
Maruti Udyog, India’s first major car manufacturing company, was set up in collaboration with Suzuki of Japan. This event marked an important step in India's industrial development, but it did not have the immediate and profound political and social impact of Operation Blue Star.

D) Bhopal Gas Tragedy (December 1984):
The Bhopal Gas Tragedy was indeed one of the deadliest industrial disasters in history, where a gas leak from the Union Carbide pesticide plant caused thousands of deaths and long-term health issues for many more people. Although this was a major tragedy with lasting social and environmental consequences, it was not a direct political operation like Operation Blue Star. It did, however, lead to changes in industrial safety laws and raised awareness about corporate responsibility and environmental protection.

Thus, Operation Blue Star was the most politically and socially significant event of 1984, especially given its profound effects on Sikh sentiments, Indian politics, and its role in the assassination of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.

Hence, Option B is Correct.

Both Statements 1 and 2 are true

Statement 1: In 1984, India witnessed its biggest industrial disaster, the Bhopal gas tragedy.

This statement is true.

• The Bhopal gas tragedy occurred in 1984, on the night of December 2-3.
• It was one of the world's worst industrial disasters. A toxic gas leak from a pesticide plant owned by Union Carbide India Limited (UCIL) in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, led to the exposure of thousands of people to methyl isocyanate gas.
• The leak resulted in the deaths of thousands of people and left many others with severe health problems, making it the most devastating industrial accident in history.

Statement 2: After the assassination of Indira Gandhi in 1984, Rajiv Gandhi became the Prime Minister of India.

This statement is also true.

• On October 31, 1984, Indira Gandhi, the then Prime Minister of India, was assassinated by her own bodyguards.
• Following her assassination, Rajiv Gandhi, her elder son, was sworn in as the Prime Minister of India on October 31, 1984, at the age of 40, making him one of the youngest Prime Ministers in Indian history.
• Rajiv Gandhi served as Prime Minister from 1984 to 1989 and led India through several reforms and challenges, including issues related to economic growth, national security, and international relations.

Conclusion:

Both statements accurately describe key historical events that occurred in 1984. Therefore, the correct answer is C) Both Statements 1 and 2 are true.

Hence, Option C Is Correct.