The 41st anniversary of Operation Bluestar was marked with solemn remembrance and relative calm at the Akal Takht in Amritsar on Friday, as tight security and deliberate restraint by religious leadership helped avert potential confrontation among Sikh factions.
In a departure from tradition, Akal Takht’s officiating Jathedar, Kuldeep Singh Gargaj, refrained from addressing the Sikh sangat (congregation) or honoring families of those killed during the controversial military operation in 1984. His silence is being credited with preventing discord between various Sikh organizations that had expressed divergent views on how the anniversary should be observed.
For the first time since 1999, when the Dal Khalsa revived formal commemoration of the event following the reconstruction of the Akal Takht in 1998, the Jathedar did not deliver a community-wide message or preside over any public honors. The decision appears to have been taken in light of opposition from influential Panthic groups, particularly the Damdami Taksal.
Harnam Singh Dhuma, head of the Damdami Taksal, who had earlier voiced objections to Gargaj taking center stage at the commemorations, expressed relief and gratitude following the event. Speaking to reporters after participating in the religious proceedings, Dhuma praised Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) president Harjinder Singh Dhami for stepping in to felicitate the families of those who lost their lives during the 1984 operation.
“This gesture has sent a positive signal to the Sikh community around the world—that unity can prevail over division,” Dhuma said.
Few slogans of ‘Khalistan Zindabad’ were raised at Amritsar’s Golden Temple SAD (Mann faction) leader Simranjit Singh Mann reached the Sikh holy site on the 41st anniversary of Operation Blue Star.
Akal Takht’s former Jathedar, Jasbir Singh Rode said the slogans “have always been raised here and across the world. There is nothing new in this.”
Apart from that the day was observed peacefully, with hundreds of devotees and representatives of Sikh bodies participating in the commemorations under the watchful eye of security personnel. Authorities maintained heightened vigilance around the Golden Temple complex to prevent any untoward incidents.
Further tension had been expected following criticism from Ishar Singh and Indarjeet Singh, sons of the slain militant leader Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, who had also opposed Gargaj’s potential address. Their statements earlier in the week had underscored the sensitive nature of the event and the enduring emotional resonance of Operation Bluestar within the Sikh community.
Despite these pressures, the event concluded without conflict, a development many are hailing as a sign of maturing dialogue and coordination among Sikh leadership. While memories of the 1984 military action remain painful and politically charged, Friday’s peaceful observance suggested a possible path forward—rooted in mutual respect and deliberate restraint.
