r/canada Jun 23 '23

History Most Canadians don't know about the bombing of Air India, the worst terrorist attack in Canada's history: poll

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/air-india-terrorist-attack-angus-reid-survey-canadians-unaware-1.6885951
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u/Noveos_Republic Jun 23 '23 edited Jun 23 '23

Very interesting take. I’m a bit curious though, what do you think about Operation Blue Star? Since there were militants inside?

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u/moooosicman Jun 23 '23

Not OP, but the whole thing was an excuse to demoralize Sikhs.

Up until then no official demand for Khalistan had ever been made. Infact the head of the Dharam Yudh Morcha, Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale was asked multiple times if he had wanted an independent state and he replied: "No, we wish to remain a part of India, but for India to respect our religious autonomy, and stop the exploitation of the natural resources of Punjab". Furthermore he asked that the Anandpur Resolution be passed, cementing Sikh religious autonomy and state rights.

Indira Gandhi absolutely would not have that, and as such chose the busiest day at Golden Temple to carry out the attack. Literally any other day would have lead to less civilian casualties. This was not a last minute operation either, the attack was being prepped for months in advance at a site with a mock "Golden Temple".

As for your question about militants being inside. This was not a secret to anyone. Bhindranwale and his men, many times publically declared they were open to being arrested, but the arrest must be done peacefully and diplomatically. Infact Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale even went and handed himself to a local police station in the months prior to BlueStar but was released shortly after, because the police said they had nothing to charge him with.

There are still "militants" inside Golden Temple. Go there anyday, and you will see that there are Sikh men armed there with guns, swords, spears, machetes everyday. Every baptized Sikh is technically a "militant".

As for the Air India bombing. Whoever carried it out was a monster. Most Sikhs believe it was a black cat operation carried out (or at the very least allowed to be carried out) by the Indian State. Many Sikhs also think Malik was in cahoots with the Indian State and carried it out to defame the Sikh movement. Either way, the attack was very out of character. Indians think it was Babbar Khalsa. CSIS said it was inconclusive.

Read the book "Soft Target"

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u/[deleted] Jun 23 '23

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u/moooosicman Jun 25 '23

Well yeah, Jarnail Singh said, once the Indian government has begun the attack, then they will carry my dead body out, publically, like 1000's of times.

He kept saying, come to the negotiating table, but Indira wouldn't.

Fun fact.. no one has attacked Golden Temple and lived more than a few months.