Punjab: Controversy erupts as Akalis honour Sikh militants

New Delhi: Akalis on Wednesday courted controversy in Punjab after glorifying slain militants on the occasion of the 8th anniversary of Operation Blue Star. The military operation, under orders from the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, had killed separatist Jarnail Singh Bhindernwale and many others while trying to wrest back control of the Golden Temple.

Earlier, the Dal Khalsa, a radical Sikh outfit, on Tuesday released a directory containing profiles of 220 Sikhs killed during Operation Blue Star.

The release coincided with commencement of Kar Sewa by the Damdami Taksal, a hardline Sikh organisation, to raise a memorial for those killed during the Operation.

The Dal Khalsa, a radical Sikh outfit, on Tuesday released a directory containing profiles of 220 Sikhs killed during Operation Blue Star.

The Operation Blue Star was carried out by the Army to flush out militants from the Golden Temple in June 1984.

The third edition of the directory carried messages of Hurriyat hawk Syed Ali Geelani and Damdami Taksal chief Baba Harnam Singh Khalsa.

A Dal Khalsa spokesman said the directory contained profiles of 220 Sikhs killed during the Operation.

It was released in the presence of their family members on the eve of the 28th anniversary of the Operation. Several Sikh hardliners were also present.

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