User:Navneet kaur006/Gurdwara

History of Attack on Golden Temple

The events of June 6, 1984, marked a tragic turning point in Indian history as the Indian army launched a violent assault on the  Golden Temple in Amritsar, the holiest Sikh shrine. Led by Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, Sikh separatists had engaged in a two-year conflict with the government, seeking autonomy for Punjab. Bhindranwale's extremist tactics, including terrorism and assassination, drew condemnation even from within the Sikh community.

Prime Minister Indira Gandhi decision to use force to reclaim control of the Golden Temple led to a bloody confrontation, resulting in hundreds of deaths and injuries. While the official death toll was reported as 492 Sikh militants, Sikh groups claim a much higher casualty count. The aftermath saw widespread riots and retaliatory violence across India, culminating in Gandhi's assassination by Sikh bodyguards in October 1984.

The events of June 1984 deepened existing tensions between Sikhs and the Indian government, leading to prolonged political instability in Punjab. The assault on the Golden Temple remains a significant and contentious chapter in India's history, underscoring the enduring impact of religious and political strife on the nation's socio-political landscape.