You have an accurate idea about it and your thoughts are similar to mine. Indira showed a lack of good judgement there. She could have starved the militants out, imposed a curfew, gassed them etc. True the militants should have exercised restraint and thought twice before carrying machine guns and other weapons, but why was the situation allowed to deteriorate to the extent that a military solution was required? Why weren't the militants and their supporters checked earlier? Why did Indira continue to use their leader Bhindrawale as a counter-weight to the Akalis (the ruling party in Punjab)? Lots of questions there. I do not blame anyone person/party in particular, but it will remain an atrocity in every Sikh's heart.

And yet, I do not hate Hindus or anybody in particular because that will get us no where. Though I have never been able to forget it all and vote for the Congress, I still believe that as a whole, India is better off under their rule than the right-wingers like BJP.