What Sonia Gandhi Reveals About Indira Gandhi's Emotional Response to Operation Blue Star

In her memoir, Sonia Gandhi reveals the emotional turmoil Indira Gandhi experienced during Operation Blue Star in 1984. She recounts how her mother-in-law was visibly distressed by the tragic events that unfolded at the Golden Temple, shedding tears of sorrow and regret. The narrative delves into the rise of Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, the violent separatist movement, and the deepening rift between the Sikh and Hindu communities. Sonia reflects on the heavy toll these events took on Indira, leading to her fateful decision to order military action. This poignant account offers a glimpse into the personal struggles faced by Indira Gandhi amidst a national crisis.

By Narendra Chaudhary Nov 10, 2026, 19:19 IST

Indira Gandhi's Tears: A Reflection on Operation Blue Star

New Delhi: According to Congress leader Sonia Gandhi, her mother-in-law, Indira Gandhi, was visibly emotional while viewing the distressing aftermath of Operation Blue Star in 1984. Sonia describes how tears of sorrow, regret, and pain filled Indira's eyes as she reflected on the tragic conclusion of the siege at the Golden Temple.

In her memoir, *Belonging: A Journey of Love*, Sonia recounts how Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, a previously obscure Sikh preacher, rose to prominence in Punjab politics over a span of 15 years. Allegedly, leaders from two rival factions within the Punjab Congress party had supported him, each aiming to undermine the other.

Eventually, Bhindranwale distanced himself from these leaders and began to unite people around various political demands. He spearheaded a violent separatist movement that sought to create a divide between the Hindu and Sikh communities.

Sonia notes that Pakistani intelligence agencies infiltrated the protests, exacerbating the chaos and prompting a mass exodus of Hindus from Punjab, with the ultimate goal of pushing for the state's secession from India.

She recalls a time when bomb blasts and the murder of innocents became commonplace.

There were numerous reports of buses being hijacked, with Hindu passengers forcibly removed and ruthlessly executed, Sonia reflects.

For the first time since Independence, a rift emerged between Sikhs and Hindus, she states in her book.

Where once the two communities coexisted peacefully, a growing sense of alienation took hold. The most alarming goal behind this hostility was the aspiration to establish Khalistan, a separate sovereign homeland for Sikhs, purportedly to protect Sikhism.

In 1982, Bhindranwale took refuge in the Golden Temple in Amritsar, the holiest site for Sikhs, where he established a 'parallel government' complete with his own judicial system for resolving disputes, issuing edicts, and creating hit lists. He began stockpiling weapons, transforming the shrine into a heavily armed fortress.

He also commanded assassination squads to systematically eliminate anyone who opposed his agenda, regardless of whether they were Sikh or Hindu.

As these atrocities persisted month after month, Indira Gandhi engaged in secret negotiations with the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leadership to find a resolution, despite the Akalis being rendered powerless by Bhindranwale.

In January 1984, a Khalistani flag was hoisted above a building near the revered shrine, she recalls.

Intelligence reports soon alerted Mrs. Gandhi that Bhindranwale and his associates were poised to declare Khalistan as an independent state and raise its flag at the Golden Temple on India's Independence Day, August 15. This act would have been tantamount to treason, posing grave risks to the nation.

Indira Gandhi had a profound and strong relationship with the Sikh community, but the situation was deteriorating; she held late-night meetings, barely ate, and appeared troubled for days, Sonia recalls.

Feeling she had no alternative, she reluctantly ordered the military to proceed with Operation Blue Star. The operation commenced on June 1, 1984, and by June 4, the army entered the Golden Temple complex.

The site was heavily fortified with far more weaponry than security reports had indicated. After a fierce battle resulting in significant casualties on both sides, the armed forces regained control of the sacred site.

This action caused extensive damage to the complex, which Sonia describes as sacrilege to the Sikh community.

Shortly after, an intelligence officer presented Mrs. Gandhi with a film depicting the grim aftermath—bodies strewn across the ground, including Bhindranwale, who had died in the conflict; fortifications; and heavy weaponry still positioned in the temple.

As Indira watched the footage, Sonia observed her mother-in-law's face wet with tears—tears of pain and regret, mourning the tragic end of the siege and the loss of numerous lives.

Following Operation Blue Star, the Nehru-Gandhi family's lives were overshadowed by threats, as Sonia recalls. Indira had instructed her not to let the children play outside as they usually did, especially after dark, due to the presence of Sikh members in her security detail.

She firmly refused to replace her Sikh guards, believing that doing so would contradict her principles. To her, every Indian citizen, regardless of their background, deserved equal respect.

Ultimately, she would pay for her convictions with her life, as she was assassinated by two Sikh guards stationed at the entrance, one of whom had often played with Rahul and Priyanka.