The Congress party has openly chastised veteran leader P. Chidambaram for his recent comments regarding Operation Blue Star. Party officials emphasized that senior figures must exercise greater discretion when making public statements to avoid causing embarrassment to the organization.
Insiders within the party revealed that both ordinary members and high-ranking officials were deeply disturbed by Chidambaram’s remarks.
During a literature festival on Saturday, October 11, 2025, Chidambaram stated his belief that Operation Blue Star, the 1984 military action to remove militants from the Golden Temple, was an incorrect approach. He linked this decision directly to the tragic assassination of then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, suggesting she ultimately ‘paid with her life’ for the mistake.
He elaborated, asserting that alternative methods existed for apprehending the militants. While acknowledging that Mrs. Gandhi’s life was a consequence of this error, Chidambaram clarified that the decision was a collective one, involving the Army, intelligence agencies, police, and civil defense, rather than solely attributable to Ms. Gandhi.
Furthermore, party leadership sources indicated their displeasure with Chidambaram’s statements concerning the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks. In a recent podcast, he revealed that he had considered military retaliation after the attacks and discussed this option with then-Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. However, the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government ultimately opted against such a response.