Overview

• Speaking in Kasauli during a discussion on Harinder Baweja’s book, P. Chidambaram said the 1984 Golden Temple assault was the wrong approach.
• He argued the decision was collective across the Army, police, intelligence and civil services, and contrasted it with later actions that kept the Army out.
• Congress sources said the leadership is very upset and urged senior figures to avoid remarks that embarrass the party, with no disciplinary action announced.
• BJP figures seized on the remarks, with spokesperson R. P. Singh calling Blue Star a political misadventure and Manjinder Singh Sirsa rejecting any dilution of Indira Gandhi’s responsibility.
• Congress leader Rashid Alvi questioned whether Chidambaram was under pressure, citing his pending cases, while the broader debate over Blue Star’s legacy resurfaced.