India, June 10 -- Senior BJP leader and Maharashtra minister Girish Mahajan has kicked up a row by terming Operation Blue Star a "black day" and dubbing those killed in the military action "martyrs" while slamming the then prime minister, Indira Gandhi.

He also likened the Army action to the invasion of the Golden Temple by Afghan ruler Ahmad Shah Abdali.

Mahajan became the first representative of any state Government to attend the Operation Blue Star anniversary commemoration at the headquarters of Damdami Taksal in Amritsar district last Saturday. "For us, Operation Blue Star is a black day. Our brothers and sisters were martyred and killed," he said while addressing the gathering in Amritsar.

Terming Operation Blue Star a "military ...