Indira Gandhi

From SikhiPedia

Indira Priyadarshini Gandhi (19 November 1917 - October 31, 1984) was the Prime Minister of India for three consecutive terms from 1966 to 1977 and for a fourth term from 1980 until her assassination in 1984. She was India's first and to date only female prime minister.

Indira Gandhi faced growing dissent among Sikhs after failing to pass the Anandpur Resolution which asked for better treatment of the Sikh minority and more rights for Punjab. Gandhi then decided to have the Indian Army attack Darbar Sahib and the Akal Takhat in what was called Operation Bluestar to flush out Baba Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale and his supporters, and in doing so killed many innocent pilgrims while desecrating the holy shrine.

Indira Gandhi had numerous bodyguards, two of whom were Satwant Singh and Beant Singh, both Sikhs. On October 31, 1984 they assassinated Indira Gandhi with machine guns in the garden of the Prime Minister's Residence at No. 1, Safdarjung Road in New Delhi.

After her death, government led pogroms against Sikhs engulfed New Delhi and several other cities in India, including Kanpur, Asansol and Indore, leading to the death of thousands of Sikhs and leaving many homeless. At that time many Gurdwaras were burnt.