In a series of explosive posts on the social media platform X, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Member of Parliament Nishikant Dubey has launched a scathing attack on the Congress party, accusing it of compromising India’s sovereignty through its handling of Operation Blue Star in 1984 and its foreign policy decisions under former Prime Ministers Jawaharlal Nehru and Rajiv Gandhi. Dubey’s posts, which include declassified letters and documents, have reignited debates about the Congress party’s historical approach to national security, particularly in light of recent India-Pakistan tensions following the Pahalgam terror attack and India’s retaliatory Operation Sindoor.
Operation Blue Star and Alleged British Involvement
In a post on X, Dubey shared a letter and a detailed report alleging British involvement in Operation Blue Star, the 1984 military operation ordered by then-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi to remove armed Sikh militants from the Sri Harmandir Sahib (Golden Temple) complex in Amritsar. The operation, which resulted in significant loss of life and remains a deeply sensitive issue for the Sikh community, has long been a subject of political contention. Dubey’s post claims that the Congress-led government sought and received operational advice from the British government, raising questions about foreign involvement in a critical domestic operation.
The shared document, titled “Allegations of UK Involvement in the Indian Operation at Sri Harmandir Sahib, Amritsar 1984,” outlines the British government’s position as stated by the UK Prime Minister during a 2014 House of Commons session: “What happened at Amritsar 30 years ago led to a tragic loss of life. It remains a source of deep pain to Sikhs everywhere.” The report, prompted by the inadvertent release of two documents under the UK’s Public Records Act, confirms that the UK provided limited operational advice at the request of the Indian Intelligence Co-ordinator in early 1984.
Key details from the report include a chronology of UK-Indian contact over Operation Blue Star:
• December 15, 1983: Dissidents fortified the Sri Harmandir Sahib complex, escalating tensions in Punjab.
• January 30, 1984: The Indian Intelligence Co-ordinator requested UK operational advice to address the situation at the temple complex.
• February 2-3, 1984: UK Foreign and Defence Secretaries approved the deployment of a military adviser to India.
• February 8-17, 1984: The UK military adviser visited India, conducted a reconnaissance of the Golden Temple, and submitted high-level recommendations to Indian authorities.
• June 5-7, 1984: Indian forces launched Operation Blue Star, resulting in significant casualties and damage to the sacred site.
Dubey’s post questions why the opposition, particularly the Congress party, never demanded a special parliamentary session to address the alleged presence of foreign soldiers in India, especially within the Golden Temple.
He wrote, “Operation Blue Star of 1984, which was carried out by the Congress government led by Indira Gandhi, was done with the help of the British government. Soldiers of other countries were present among the citizens of our country and especially in the Golden Temple in Amritsar, despite this the opposition never clamoured for a special session of the Parliament. Do the opposition parties have no concern for the country? The first special session should be on Operation Blue Star only?”
यह ब्रिटिश प्रधानमंत्री का ब्रिटेन के संसद में दिया वक्तव्य है ।1984 का ऑपरेशन ब्लू स्टार जो इंदिरा गांधी जी के नेतृत्व में कांग्रेस की सरकार ने किया था,वह ब्रिटिश सरकार की मदद से किया था ।दूसरे देश के सैनिक हमारे देश के नागरिकों तथा ख़ासकर गोल्डन टेंपल अमृतसर में मौजूद थे,इसके… pic.twitter.com/Xgk2WTHFcZ
— Dr Nishikant Dubey (@nishikant_dubey) June 3, 2025
The allegations have sparked outrage among some sections of the public, with accusations of Congress compromising national sovereignty by involving a foreign power in a sensitive domestic operation.
Nehru’s Letter to Pakistan and the 1965 War
In a separate post, Dubey shared a declassified letter dated November 15, 1962, from former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru to Pakistan’s military ruler, Field Marshal Ayub Khan.
Written during the Sino-Indian War, the letter reveals Nehru’s plea for US military aid to counter China’s invasion while assuring Pakistan of India’s peaceful intentions. Nehru wrote, “Whatever our differences may be, the disturbance to stability and peace in this sub-continent is a matter of common concern to both of us… The idea of any conflict with Pakistan is one which is repugnant to us, and we on our part will never initiate it.”
Dubey alleges that the US’s decision to share this letter with Pakistan, a key Cold War ally, exposed India’s military and economic vulnerabilities, emboldening Pakistan to launch the 1965 war. He wrote, “This is the second letter written by Iron Lady’s father Nehru ji to the American President during the China war… What can be said about the person who tells the country’s weaknesses to foreigners, especially Pakistan?”
The letter’s candid admissions of India’s constraints, coupled with assurances of non-aggression toward Pakistan, are seen by Dubey as a strategic blunder that undermined India’s position in the region. Historians note that Pakistan’s perception of a weakened India may have contributed to its decision to initiate the 1965 conflict, particularly in Jammu and Kashmir.
Rajiv Gandhi’s Alleged Breach of the Shimla Agreement
Adding fuel to the controversy, Dubey shared a declassified letter dated March 25, 1987, from then-US President Ronald Reagan to former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. The letter suggests that Rajiv proposed involving American drug liaison agents in bilateral talks with Pakistan on cross-border narcotics smuggling, a move Dubey claims violated the 1972 Shimla Agreement, which mandates that India and Pakistan resolve disputes bilaterally without third-party mediation.
Reagan’s letter states, “I was particularly interested in the proposal in your letter of January 7 that American drug liaison agents be associated with your bilateral narcotics consultations… I assure you we will be happy to assist in whatever ways you and the government of Pakistan find helpful.” While the letter does not explicitly confirm a request for mediation in broader disputes, Dubey argues that involving the US in any bilateral discussions undermines India’s commitment to the Shimla Agreement.
Dubey’s post reads, “When it was decided under the 1972 Shimla Agreement that any dispute between India and Pakistan would be negotiated only between the two countries and there would be no mediator, why did the then Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi ask for US President Reagan’s help in negotiating with Pakistan?”
The timing of this revelation is significant, as it coincides with heightened India-Pakistan tensions following the April 22, 2025, Pahalgam terror attack, which killed 26 civilians, and India’s retaliatory Operation Sindoor, which showcased India’s indigenous defence capabilities, including the BrahMos missile and Akash SAM system.
Political Reactions and Context
Dubey’s posts have triggered a heated political debate, with the BJP leveraging the disclosures to question the Congress party’s historical commitment to India’s sovereignty and national security. The revelations come at a time when the current BJP-led government has firmly rejected claims of US mediation in India-Pakistan relations, particularly after statements by US President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio in 2025. The government’s emphasis on self-reliance in defence and diplomacy stands in stark contrast to the Congress’s alleged reliance on foreign powers, as highlighted by Dubey.
Congress leaders have yet to formally respond to Dubey’s allegations, but party supporters argue that the letters are being taken out of context to malign the legacy of the Gandhi family. They contend that seeking international cooperation, whether for operational advice in 1984 or narcotics control in 1987, was in India’s national interest and does not equate to compromising sovereignty.
Public and Social Media Response
Dubey’s posts have gone viral on X, with thousands of users engaging in heated discussions. Some users have praised the BJP MP for exposing what they see as historical betrayals by the Congress. Sikh community leaders have called for a thorough investigation into the allegations of foreign involvement in the 1984 operation, emphasising the need for transparency to heal longstanding wounds.
Nishikant Dubey’s revelations have reopened old wounds and intensified scrutiny of the Congress party’s historical decisions. By highlighting alleged foreign involvement in Operation Blue Star and perceived missteps in India’s foreign policy under Nehru and Rajiv Gandhi, Dubey has sought to contrast the current government’s assertive stance with what he portrays as the Congress’s compromising approach.
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