The statement made by BJP leader and senior Maharashtra minister Girish Mahajan regarding Operation Blue Star is highly irresponsible, against the national interest, and an insult to the bravery of the Indian Armed Forces, Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee President Harshvardhan Sapkal said on Tuesday.
Questioning Operation Blue Star, a military mission undertaken to safeguard the country's unity and national security, amounts to undermining India's fight against terrorism, Sapkal alleged. He demanded that Mahajan be immediately removed from both the cabinet and the BJP.
Sapkal said that Operation Blue Star was not an action against any religion but a difficult and necessary military operation conducted by the Indian Armed Forces against armed Khalistani terrorists who were conspiring to break up India. He noted that the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi took the tough decision despite being fully aware that it could endanger her own life, prioritising the unity and integrity of the nation above all else.
"Indira Gandhi was later assassinated by Khalistani extremists, while General Arun Kumar Vaidya, who led the operation, was also targeted and killed by terrorists. Mahajan's remarks amount to disrespecting the sacrifices made by these great individuals who laid down their lives for the unity and integrity of the nation," Sapkal said.
The Congress leader further claimed that Mahajan's comments reflected an "anti-national mindset" within the BJP and the RSS. According to Sapkal, failure to carry out Operation Blue Star could have posed a serious threat to India's unity and territorial integrity.
Sapkal even questioned the role of National Security Advisor, Ajit Doval, in the security operations related to the mission. "Will Girish Mahajan now condemn his role as well? Does he have the courage to demand Doval's removal from the post of National Security Advisor?" he asked.
Objecting to the comparison of Operation Blue Star with the actions of Ahmad Shah Abdali, Sapkal said such remarks insult the Indian military. He further alleged that Mahajan appears to have attempted to glorify Khalistani terrorist Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale. "Taking a position that generates sympathy for individuals who took up arms against India's sovereignty is an extremely serious matter," he said.
Sapkal asked Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to clarify whether attending a programme that glorified Bhindranwale as a representative of the state government and making statements against the unity and integrity of the nation reflects the official policy of the state government. "Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis must also clearly state whether they agree with Girish Mahajan's position. If they do not, they should publicly condemn his remarks and apologise to the nation and the Indian Armed Forces. Otherwise, Mahajan's position will be viewed as the official stand of the BJP," he said.
The Congress leader further alleged that the BJP was willing to compromise on issues of national security, sovereignty, and unity for the sake of vote-bank politics.
Demanding immediate action, Sapkal said Mahajan should apologise to the nation and the Indian Armed Forces for insulting the bravery of India's soldiers, the sacrifices of national leaders, and the country's security. He also demanded the BJP's central leadership to condemn the remarks and take strict action against the minister.
