The Shiv Sena party today paid tributes in Punjab's Phagwara city to the soldiers who lost their lives in Operation Blue Star in June 1984.
The operation was launched by the Army to flush out Sikh separatist militants, led by Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, who were hiding inside the Golden Temple.
Addressing the workers, party state secretary Gurdip Saini expressed displeasure over the state government's decision to allow the Sikh hardliners to commemorate the 34th anniversary of Operation Blue Star today.
It was unfortunate that Chief Minister Amarinder Singh followed in the footsteps of his predecessor Parkash Singh Badal and allowed glorification of a terrorist like Bhindrawale, he said.
He dubbed the demand for a referendum for Khalistan, separate Sikh homeland, by a handful of radical Sikh outfits preposterous.
Saini claimed that certain people, sitting safe in foreign sanctuaries, were trying to vitiate atmosphere of Punjab at the behest of Pakistan's intelligence agency ISI.
The anniversary of Operation Blue Star, Ghallughara Divas, was observed by Sikhs, especially hardline youths, in parts of Punjab today.
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