Maharashtra Congress Responds to P Chidambaram's Controversial Remarks on Operation Blue Star

The Congress leadership is upset with Chidambaram's remark on Operation Blue Star.

Mumbai:

Maharashtra Congress President Harshwardhan Sapkal stated on Saturday that senior party leader P Chidambaram's remark on the 1984 Operation Blue Star expressed his personal opinion.

"Terrorism had escalated in the country during that period, and former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi lost her life because of it. Whatever Chidambaram said should be considered his personal view," Sapkal added.

What Did P Chidambaram Say On Op Blue Star?

On Saturday, P Chidambaram criticized Operation Blue Star conducted under the Indira Gandhi-led government in 1984, describing it as "the wrong way," and stated that the former prime minister paid with her life for the "mistake."

Speaking at the Khushwant Singh Literary Festival 2025 on Saturday, Chidambaram, the former Union home and finance minister, said that Operation Black Thunder was the correct approach to retrieve the Golden Temple, by keeping the Army away from the Sikh place of worship.

READ: 'Pressure Because Of Criminal Case?' A P Chidambaram Problem For Congress

"No disrespect to any military officers here, but that (Blue Star) was the wrong way to retrieve the Golden Temple. A few years later, we demonstrated the right way to retrieve the Golden Temple by keeping out the army," Chidambaram said.

"Mrs Gandhi (former PM Indira Gandhi) paid with her life for that mistake. It was a collective decision of the Army, Police, intelligence, and the civil services. You cannot attribute it solely to Mrs Gandhi," he added.

The Congress leadership is displeased with his remark. Chidambaram is already facing criticism over his statement regarding the 26/11 terror attack in Mumbai in 2008.

Raj-Uddhav Meeting Welcomed

Meanwhile, responding to the recent meeting between Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray and Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray, Maharashtra Congress Chief Harshwardhan Sapkal said that his party had no objection to the Thackeray cousins coming together.

"We are part of the INDIA alliance. If two brothers meet and talk, it's beneficial for unity. The alliance partners will determine future participation," he said.

'RTI Is People's Power'

Commemorating 20 years of the Right to Information (RTI) Act, Sapkal said the law was one of Congress' significant contributions to strengthening democracy.

READ: Team Thackeray Protests Over Farmers' Distress, Demands Loan Waiver

RTI gave every citizen the right to question power. However, under the Modi government, it has been consistently weakened, positions left vacant, and access to data reduced. Citizens must speak up to protect it," he said.

Warning Over Soybean Prices

Sapkal also criticized the Maharashtra government over declining soybean prices. He noted that despite a Minimum Support Price (MSP) of Rs 5,400 per quintal, farmers were being forced to sell at Rs 3,200-Rs 3,700.

"If the government cannot ensure fair prices, it should purchase the crop itself at MSP. Otherwise, ministers will not be permitted to move freely in the state," he warned.