Anna describes Operation Bluestar 'unfortunate incident'

Social activist Anna Hazare on Sunday described Operation Bluestar as a 'very unfortunate' incident, which could have been avoided had the government of the time 'shown responsibility in governance'.

Social activist Anna Hazare on Sunday described Operation Bluestar as a 'very unfortunate' incident, which could have been avoided had the government of the time 'shown responsibility in governance'.

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Anna was talking to mediapersons after paying obeisance at Golden Temple just before start of 'Jantantra Yatra' being organised by the Jantantra Morcha.

"It happened because of the ignorance on the part of the then government. Not only Sikhs but Hindus, Muslims, Christians and others come every day to pay obeisance at Golden Temple," the former armyman said when asked about the June 1984 operation launched by the army to flush out heavily-armed militants from the shrine.

On the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, Anna said it too was an unfortunate happening. Such incidents occur due to the ignorance on the part of the government to understand the ground realities and take preventive steps in advance, he said.

"It is unfortunate that to this day, the victims of these riots have not been given justice and their cases continue to linger in courts. There is delay in God's house but justice will be delivered ultimately," he said.

However, he had added that as the 1984 operation was a political decision the army was duty bound to carry it out. "The army only understands what it is like being deployed against your own countrymen," he had stated.