Separatists took the centre stage Monday at a function here to mark the 21st anniversary of Operation Bluestar - the Indian Army campaign to flush out terrorists from the Golden Temple.

They shouted slogans in favour of Khalistan - a homeland for the Sikh community - in a charged atmosphere inside the Golden Temple complex in front of hundreds of the devout that had thronged the holiest Sikh shrine.

Nearly 100 separatists got on to the stage, brandishing swords and shouting pro-Khalistan slogans, and demanded that Sikhs should fight for a separate homeland that would serve as a buffer state between India and Pakistan.

Shiromani Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC) president Jagir Kaur and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Parkash Singh Badal were forced to beat a hasty retreat from the event as the radicals and separatists took over.

Both leaders were not allowed to speak and had to face slogans against them.

Policemen in plain clothes kept a watch on Monday's proceedings from a distance as they are not allowed to enter the temple complex in uniform.

No ceremony was held Monday to lay the foundation stone for a memorial to those killed inside the Golden Temple complex during Operation Bluestar in June 1984.

The SGPC was unable to decide on laying the foundation stone following criticism of its announcement to raise the memorial.

Confusion and chaos reigned at Monday's function as the separatists did not allow any other proceedings.

They took the centre stage as soon as Joginder Singh Vedanti, head of the Akal Takht or the highest religious seat of the Sikh community, ended his sermon.

Such pro-Khalistan slogans were openly raised at a public place after several years.

Khalistan ideologue Jagjit Singh Chohan, radical Akali leader Simranjit Singh Mann, separatist Kanwarpal Singh Dhami and several other leaders gave provocative speeches at the event, asking Sikhs to fight for a "homeland".

Leaders and activists from Damdami Taksal, a religious sect once led by Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, were present in large numbers in the traditional attire of Nihangs.

Bhindranwale had led the separatist movement in Punjab in the early 1980s from inside the Golden Temple, and this led to an armed attack on the complex by the Indian Army to flush out heavily armed Sikh terrorists.

Hundreds, including innocent devout, lost their lives in that operation.