Updated October 31, 2024 at 12:30 p.m.
Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was assassinated by two Sikh security guards on this day in 1984.
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Who was Indira Gandhi?
Indira Gandhi was an Indian politician and the first woman to serve as the Prime Minister of India. She held the office of Prime Minister from 1966 to 1977 and again from 1980 until her assassination in 1984. The assassination occurred at her residence in New Delhi, India. She was shot and killed by two of her Sikh security guards, Beant Singh and Satwant Singh.
What were the motives behind the assassination of Indira Gandhi?
The assassination was primarily motivated by political and religious factors. The two assassins, Beant Singh and Satwant Singh, who were Sikhs, carried out the act in response to the Indian government's Operation Blue Star in June 1984, which targeted Sikh militants hiding in the Golden Temple in Amritsar.
What was Operation Blue Star, and why did it lead to such strong reactions among Sikhs?
Operation Blue Star was a military operation conducted by the Indian government to remove Sikh militants, led by Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, from the Golden Temple complex in Amritsar, which is a revered Sikh religious site. The operation caused significant damage to the temple and led to a strong sense of anger and betrayal among many Sikhs.