In the first week of June 1984, Operation Blue Star ended after fierce fighting between the army and the militants hiding in Amritsar’s Golden Temple – the highest and most revered seat of worship for the Sikhs, the world over. So, what was the aftermath like…after all, about 100 army personnel had been martyred, hundreds of militants laid down their lives, and thousands of innocent pilgrims were also killed. The answer can be given by only one person, Mr. Ramesh Inder Singh, who was Deputy Collector of Amritsar at that time and whose book – Turmoil in Punjab – Before and After Operation Blue Star, An Insider Account – presents a detailed picture of that brief period in history when blood had got thinner than water and people had lost trust in each other, especially the government.
Please click here to watch the full interview….
The first challenge before the administration was to clean up the place, sending bodies to their families, cremating all the dead with due respect, and ensuring supplies to everyone – including fodder for the cattle – as the city was under a curfew.
The 1974-batch IAS officer, Mr. Singh, is presently the Chief Information Commissioner of Punjab. He is also one of the 12 officers of his batch who have come together to compile memoirs of their work and experience in the form of a book – Rear View: Tales of Administration and Diplomacy.
In this interview, he also talks about whether Operation Blue Star could have been avoided and where the army’s strategy and plans went haywire. Who should shoulder the blame? Please watch the full video for all the answers.
