For the first time, a senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader has publicly echoed sentiments traditionally associated with panthic political discourse. The development emerged during the 42nd anniversary of Operation Blue Star, when Maharashtra minister Girish Mahajan visited the Damdami Taksal, a Sikh seminary once headed by Khalistani separatist and terrorist Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale.
During his visit, Mahajan shared the stage with Damdami Taksal leaders and described the Army action as an “attack” on the Golden Temple. He held former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi responsible for ordering the deployment of troops into Sikhism’s holiest shrine. He further drew parallels with historical invasions and referenced the absence of accountability for those involved in the anti-Sikh riots that followed Indira Gandhi’s assassination.
The remarks are politically significant as they represent a clear departure from the Bharatiya Janata Party’s established position. While the party has consistently targeted the Congress over the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, it has largely avoided criticising Operation Blue Star itself. The party and its ideological ecosystem have traditionally viewed the military action as a tragic but necessary step to restore order during a period of militancy.
Mahajan’s statements therefore indicate a strategic attempt to engage with Sikh sentiments that continue to regard the operation as a profound religious and emotional trauma. The political context further underscores the shift. Following its split with the Shiromani Akali Dal and the repercussions of the farm laws protests, the Bharatiya Janata Party has struggled to expand its base among Sikh voters. Despite efforts to project itself as a national alternative in Punjab, its influence remains largely confined to urban constituencies.
The outreach to influential Sikh religious institutions such as the Damdami Taksal appears aimed at reducing mistrust among Sikh communities and signalling sensitivity toward historical grievances. However, the approach carries political risks. Punjab Congress president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring accused the Bharatiya Janata Party of inconsistency, stating that the party was “running with the hare and hunting with the hounds.” He further alleged that while the Bharatiya Janata Party labels opponents as anti-national, it is now adopting narratives it previously opposed. He also cautioned against the revival of divisive historical memories for electoral advantage and recalled Punjab’s severe losses during the militancy period, including the assassination of a Prime Minister and a Chief Minister.
Despite the criticism, the outreach appears to be a calculated effort to separate Sikh religious identity from the politics of militancy. In Punjab, where symbolism holds substantial electoral influence, such gestures have the potential to reshape political perceptions. The Bharatiya Janata Party is attempting a delicate balance between acknowledging Sikh grievances over Operation Blue Star and maintaining its broader nationalist positioning.
Whether this approach is interpreted as reconciliation or electoral opportunism is likely to emerge as a central political debate in the lead-up to the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections.
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