Has Rahul Gandhi Promised Bharat Ratna To Khalistani Militant Bhindranwale If Cong Wins 2024 Polls?

As the BJP government has honoured five eminent personalities with Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian award, a strange claim started doing rounds on social media on Thursday.

A social media account named 'The Baingan' said that Rahul Gandhi has promised to honour slain Sikh militant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale with Bharat Ratna if the Congress government comes to power.

"BREAKING: Rahul Gandhi promises Bharat Ratna to Bhindranwale if Congress wins 2024," the message from the said social media account claimed. His post is getting a lot of traction on social media sites.

Is there a truth in the claim?
On searching Google and social media sites, there were some posts which demanded Bharat Ratna for Bhindranwale, but nothing related to Rahul making such a statement was found.

Hence, it is a clear attempt to spread fake news and create confusion in the minds of the people on the internet.

Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale born Jarnail Singh Brar is a controversial name in the history of India. It was his presence along with armed supporters inside the Golden Temple which necessitated Operation Blue Star.

On 3 June 1984 Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi initiated Operation Blue Star and ordered the Indian Army to raid the Golden Temple complex to remove armed Sikh militants from the complex. Bhindranwale was killed in the operation.

However, the BJP-led NDA government has announced the Bharat Ratna to five people in 2024. They are: Former Prime Ministers PV Narasimha Rao and Chaudhary Charan Singh, former Deputy PM LK Advani, alongside agricultural scientist MS Swaminathan, and former Bihar CM Karpoori Thakur.