‘Posted WhatsApp Forward In Haste’: Harbhajan Singh Issues Apology For Calling Jarnail Bhindranwale ‘Martyr’

After facing severe backlash on his Instagram story on the 37th anniversary of Operation Blue Star, India offs pinner Harbhajan Singh on Monday issued apology for hurting the sentiments of his fellow countrymen. 

On the 37th anniversary of Operation Blue Star (June 6), the World cup-winning Cricketer Harbhajan shared an Instagram story featuring slain Khalistani separatist leader Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale. Singh did not explicitly name Bhindranwale but the post shared by the cricketer in his Instagram story on June 6 labelled Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale as a martyr, which led to the player receiving backlash on social media. 

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Following the controversy, Singh on Monday took to Twitter clarifying that he posted a WhatsApp forward in haste without even realising the content used. 

“I just wish to clarify and apologise for an Instagram post yesterday. It was a WhatsApp forward that I posted in haste without even realising the content used and what it signified or stood for,” Harbhajan said. 

“I am a Sikh who will fight for India and not against India. This is my unconditional apology for hurting the sentiments of my nation in fact any anti-national group against my people I do not support and never will,” the post further read. 

“I have given my blood and sweat for this country for 20 years and will never ever support anything that is anti-India,” it added, 

Operation Blue Star was carried out from June 1 to June 8, 1984 at the Golden Temple in Amritsar. The mission ordered by late PM Indira Gandhi in 1984 was conducted by the Indian Army at the Golden Temple to flush out the terrorists who demanded a sovereign state for the Sikh community. 

The Indian Army surrounded the Golden Temple complex on June 3 and imposed curfew in the city in the evening. On June 4, the Army decided to open fire against the armed militants present inside the temple. On the night of June 5, the clash between the Army and the militants began.

According to the Government of India, 83 soldiers were killed and 249 were injured. 493 extremists or civilians were killed, 86 were injured and 1592 were arrested.