A SOLDIER RECALLS

摘要

"Only a few days earlier the Home Minister had announced in the Parliament that troops would not be sent to the Golden Temple and the President of India had also issued a similar statement. There was no need to issue such statements, when the Government was to act in a manner contrary to what had been stated. The Saudi Arabian commandos had gone inside the Holy Kaba at Mecca to deal with the terrorists who had lodged themselves there. The police had entered the Vishwanath Temple at Varanasi and had arrested the priest for theft. Therefore the troops could certainly enter Golden Temple where circumstances justified their doing so. However, it should have been ensured that we took due cognisance of the psychological aspect and not only acted correctly but should have been seen to be acting correctly. I wish the operation had been conducted on the lines of what I had laid down, when I was the Army Commander in the West. That may have prevented a sense of hurt and alienation amongst the Sikhs. After Operation Bluestar, I received a number of letters from my Sikh friends saying that if I had been the Chief, Operation Bluestar would not have taken place. All that I can say is that if I had been in the Army, I would have conducted this operation in an entirely different manner."