Meanwhile, Punjab was in the grip of Khalistani terrorists. They wanted to create independent state called ‘Khalistan’. Prime Minister Indira Gandhi would never allow any separatist activity to succeed. It meant Balkanistation of India, not acceptable at any cost. To defend the integrity of the country Indira Gandhi took strong steps to eliminate terrorism from Punjab.
On June 6, 1980 ‘Operation Blue Star’ was launched by the army to clear Golden Temple where a large number of terrorists were holed up. In this operation hundreds of terrorists got killed, nabbed or many made to surrender. A few managed to escape and fled from the country. The back of the terrorism was broken. But risk to the life of Indiraji had increased. The terrorists who still were running free issued several threats of assassination to her. It did not worry or scare Indira Gandhi. A brave lady she was. Every price she would pay in the line of her duty and for the country.
Once to a governor Indira Gandhi confided, “My grandfather, mother and father, all three of them died on sick bed. But I don’t want to go that way. I may die fighting for the nation. I am only worried about my family, my grand children.”
During that period Rahul and Priyanka had been sent to Dehradun for further studies after they had completed primary education in junior model school, New Delhi. Rahul was enrolled in Doon School and Priyanka went to Welhems Girls School.
Rajiv was assisting his mother in all matters and Sonia Gandhi stood by them providing emotional support and catering to their non-official needs. She was very worried about the security of the children and talked about it to Rajiv and Indiraji. Rajiv also thought that Dehradun could not provide the kind of security to his children as New Delhi could.
Indira Gandhi herself was very concerned about the changed situation. The revenge seekers were stalking her family. She got Rahul and Priyanka shifted to New Delhi. Rahul was admitted in St. Columbus School and Priyanka took admission in Convent of Jesus and Mary, New Delhi. Indira Gandhi was satisfied to some extent.
On October 29, 1984 Indira Gandhi went on a tour of Orissa. Back home an incident happened that caused much worry to Sonia Gandhi. On October 30, the car carrying Rahul and Priyanka was hit at by another car. The car borne miscreants wanted to hurt the children or kidnap them, it so appeared. Their bid failed and the children came home in safe condition.
Sonia was at home. The incident unnerved her. She already was always worrying about the security of her children. Sonia at once rang up Indiraji and informed her about the development.
The news caused great concern to Indiraji. She maintained cool attitude outwardly but in heart she was very worried for the safety of her family. She put Sonia at ease and directed her personal secretary P.C. Alexander to arrange strict security cover for the children. She assured of her early return and continued on with her political engagements.
In a 30th October public meeting Indira Gandhi gave her last historic message to the countrymen in the following words :
“Today I am amongst you. Tomorrow I may not be. Attempts on my life have been made. I am not concerned about my staying alive or not. I have lived a long and full life. If anything I am proud of is that I have dedicated my entire life to the service of the nation. I will continue to serve till the last breath. That is my only and last will. When I die I can say that every drop of my blood will keep India alive and provide strength to the nation.”
When Indiraji returned to New Delhi she asked her P.S., P.C. Alexender to cancel all her engagements for the 31st October as she wanted to spend entire time with her family.
On the pre-dawn hours of October 31, Rajiv Gandhi set out on a tour of W. Bengal. At home were Indiraji, Sonia and the children, Rahul and Priyanka. Then Sonia was having asthmatic problems. Indiraji herself gave her medicinal dose and played with the children.
When the children were leaving for the school Indiraji took Rahul in her lap and whispered if some tragedy happened to his grandma he must not cry. Suddenly she had become very emotional. Sonia could not understand that emotionalism. Infact the emotional outpouring of Indiraji puzzled her as she watched.
Although Indiraji’s programmes for that day had been cancelled yet a few long arranged engagements had to be honoured. A considerate person she was. One of them was an interview by an Irish TV team led by Peter Ustinov. Indiraji got ready in a hurry and left home at 9.15 a.m. clad in a saffron coloured saree. She was in high spirits and ignored to wear bullet proof jacket.
Her office was across the lawn from her residence. She strided over the paved path flanked by ornamental bushes. Suddenly from behind the bushes, automatic gun shots rang and hails of bullets hit her. The shooters were prime ministers’ own Sikh body guards called Satwant Singh and Beant Singh.
Indira Gandhi collapsed with her body bullet riddled. Blood poured out. She was rushed to AIIMS with Sonia Gandhi holding her. Sonia could not help crying and shedding tears at the tragedy of her having in lap the bloodied Mummy she so respected and loved. Meanwhile, Rajiv as Congress general secretary was in Kotai, West Bengal doing party duty. He was not given the news of the demise of his mother all of a sudden. First, he was told that an attempt had been made on the life of Indira Gandhi and the doctors were attending to her. Rajiv at once reached Kolaghat by car and then to Dumdum airport of Kolkata by copter.
At the airport at 2.20 p.m. he heard B.B.C. announce the death of Indira Gandhi. Rajiv Gandhi left for Delhi by a special plane accompanied by Pranab Mukherji and Abdul Ghani Khan Chaudhury. After the death of Sanjay four years earlier in a plane crash yet another tragedy had struck Gandhi family. The loss for Rajiv was too deep for words. With tremendous courage he bore with the grief and did not break down.
Rajiv Gandhi went straight to AIIMS at 3.15 p.m. after landing in Delhi. Only after his arrival the demise of Indira Gandhi was officially announced. So far, All India Radio had withheld the news. The death of Indiraji was too cruel for the people to accept. The public anger found expression in terrible riots, burning and violence against Sikhs.
Thousands of innocents lost their lives in the carnage. It greatly unnerved Sonia Gandhi. Her small world seemed to be on fire.
In the assassination of Indira Gandhi the country had lost a powerful, charismatic and immensely capable Prime Minister. The Congress party had lost its brilliant leader. The party unanimously elected Rajiv Gandhi as its leader. Apparently it wanted to put Rajiv in the saddle of prime ministership.
Sonia was already against Rajiv Gandhi joining the politics and now the assassination of Indira Gandhi had created a situation where Rajiv was getting forced into it in an inevitable and irresistible way. She shuddered. Rajiv Gandhi becoming the Prime Minister was a frightening prospect for her. The destiny was pushing things against her wish. She protested against the idea.
The secretary to PM, P.C. Alexander was a witness to what went between Rajiv Gandhi and his love Sonia. She was not agreeable to Rajiv Gandhi accepting prime ministership but he was trying to persuade her. The situation demanded Rajiv to accept the responsibility for the sake of the country and the tradition of his family. He was in a bind. So, Rajiv was seen holding her face between his palms and kissing her forehead as he reasoned on with tearful Sonia. She was praying to Rajiv not to get deeper into the quagmire of dirty politics while the latter swore by the tradition of his family to serve the nation and not leave it in lurch at a difficult point of time. Bound by duty Rajiv was. At last, Rajiv was able to soften Sonia’s stand against his becoming PM however half hearted it was.
On October 31, 1984 the President, Giani Zail Singh gave the oath of prime ministership to Rajiv Gandhi. Alongside, Pranab Mukherji, P. Shivshankar, Narsimha Rao and Buta Singh also were sworn in as cabinet ministers. Thus, at the young age of 40 years Rajiv Gandhi became the Prime Minister of the largest democracy of the world. It was significant.
Rajiv Gandhi had become the premier but he was yet to prove himself worthy of the huge responsibility. It was not easy. The assassination of the leader of Indiraji’s stature had created explosive situation in the country. The angry mobs were seeking revenge on Sikhs as the assassins belonged to their community. Situation in Delhi was out of control. In such an explosive and violent atmosphere taking charge of top job was going to be fire test for the young PM.
On the night of October 31, 1984 after becoming PM, Rajiv Gandhi addressed the nation—
‘My government won’t tolerate communalism. The government may perish but its will not bow before communal frenzy. We must not get swayed by emotions. The acts committed in anger can lead us on the wrong path. Indiraji’s soul would be most hurt if violence engulfs the country. She is not with us today but her spirit is with us. India is forever. The spirit of Indian nation is also immortal. Indiraji was not my mother only but she was mother of our nation. The responsibility to complete her unfinished task has come on our shoulders’.
Calm and solemn was his voice.
On November 1, Rajiv called a meeting of all the leaders of the opposition parties and an appeal for peace was issued to the people on behalf of all. The chief ministers of the states who had gathered in Delhi to attend the funeral of Indiraji were asked to rush back to their states to take measures to bring in peace. The combined efforts of the centre and the states succeeded in bringing the situation under control.
Once again peace returned to everyone’s relief although the aggrieved community was emotionally inconsolable.
On November 4, Rajiv Gandhi formed full fledged ministry. All the ministers of the earlier cabinet found place in the new set up except a couple but portfolios were redistributed. There were 14 cabinet and 24 ministers of state.
Till November 11, Rajiv Gandhi dealt with official files from Safdarjung Road residence of PM. On the 12th he went to the office of the Prime Minister at South Block. On the same day, Congress Working Committee held a meeting under chairmanship of Kamlapati Tripathi and Rajiv Gandhi was unanimously chosen as the President of the party. According to the resolution of the outgoing committee, he reconstituted the Working Committee.
On November 12, Rajiv Gandhi in the capacity of PM delivered an address to the nation outlining his policies and priorities:
“I will try to fulfil the dreams seen by Mahatma Gandhi, Nehruji and Indira Gandhi. The policies we inherited from them will be adhered to with commitment by my government. Besides secularism, socialism and planned progress we will work for clean and efficient administration. India’s struggle against old and new colonialism, for peace and new international order will continue.”
He warned the forces that were conspiring to break up India, “Only the destructive and separatist elements will gain if we answer communalism with communalism. Only with the cooperation between the government and the people the conspiracies of destructive forces can be defeated. India is one and united. To all of us it belongs. India will keep its efforts to make its relations with far and immediate neighbours more friendly. Our basic aim is to establish amity, cooperation and peace. On this basis we want to improve relations with Pakistan. In international arena we will work on our priciples of non-interference in internal matters of other nations, peaceful co-existence and non-alignment. For enhancing mutual cooperation in South Asia we will take new steps.’
On the matters of domestic production and development opportunities, he said—’Farmers and workers are the pillars of our economic system. My government shall continue the efforts in the direction of improving the condition of scheduled caste, tribes, backwards, farm labourers and women. 20 Point Programme of Indiraji will be implemented fully and in more effective way. Our education system needs a big change as a great energy for national development and integrity.
My intention is to review education policy extensively and it will be done with the national consensus. Like today we shall build the future. We altogether shall unitedly build a new India of 21st century. Anything that needs to be changed shall be changed with a united effort of all.”
19th November was Indiraji’s birthday. Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi celebrated that 67th birthday of Indira Gandhi as a function. On that occasion he spoke in public as PM for the first time.
In this address Rajiv revealed his sentiments in the following words—’At this time there are clouds of distress on the horizon of our country. There is a need for special alertness and vigil in many parts of our land. The elements behind the assassination of Indiraji are those who want to dismember the country. We must put all our power to the task of maintaining the independence and integrity of the country and defeat the designs of the separatists.
The world has seen that India is a mature, wise and resilient nation. We have to take it to upper levels. The programmes started by Jawaharlalji and Indiraji should be carried forward to completion in such a way that they benefit the poor most.
We celebrate this birthday of Indiraji when she is not amongst us. 37 years ago Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated. They are not with us physically yet they are guiding us along. Only a three weeks ago Indiraji, died yet she still works as our guide and supportive force’.
Rajiv Gandhi had buried the grief of the loss of his mother under prime ministerial files and responsibilities. But Sonia had no such scope to displace her sorrow. The understanding face of her late Mummy always kept floating before her eyes. Indiraji was the one who had emotionally rehabilitated Sonia in India, in her family. Sonia’s loss was irreparable. The death of Indiraji had shaken her badly.
Rajiv Gandhi encouraged and inspired her to live for the country and the children. But she could not get over her shock and grief. She had narrowed down her world to the limits of only Rajiv and her children. There was emptiness beyond them.
