NEW DELHI, India, July, 23, Reuter: A group of men tonight attacked a former Indian minister and critic of Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, throwing stones and firecrackers and smashing several cars as they broke up a meeting with students, witnesses said.
They said about 100 men shouting “Long Live Rajiv Gandhi” and “Death To V.P. Singh” charged” into a house on a university campus in a bid to reach the 55yearold administer who was fired by Gandhi from the Congress (1) Party on Sunday.
Vishwanath Pratap Singh, the main focus of anti-Gandhi dissent in the country in recent months, was hustled out of the back door to escape the attackers, some of whom were identified by witnesses as members of the Congress Party Youth Wing.
A lecturer who saw the attack told Reuters that Singh was unhurt in the raid which came as Singh arrived at St. Stephen’s college in North Delhi for dinner and a discussion with students and professors.
Two students were beaten up, two cars were set on fire and three damaged and the attackers broke into the House and smashed an air-conditioned unit and flowerpots and set fire to curtains, lecturer Suresh Sharma said.
The attack was the second in a few days on an anti-Gandhi dissident fired from the Congress Party by Gandhi. Last week, a group of men, some also identified by witnesses as members of the party youth wing, tried to storm the home of administer Arif Mohammed Khan a day after Gandhi expelled him.
The latest attack came as Gandhi dismissed a government minister for critiquing India’s outgoing President the third Minister to depart from the Cabinet in 10 days amid a political crisis over Gandhi’s leadership.
The Press Trust of India (PTI) said Zail Singh demanded and got the dismissal of K.K. Tewari, a Gandhi loyalist and minister of state for Public Enterprises, after he publicly accused the President of sedition.
PTI said V.P. Singh denounced tonight’s assault on him as “a murderous attack”.
“It was a very determined assault and they went about things very professionally”, Sharma told Reuters.
“It is very bad. It happens to someone whom the ruler doesn’t like, that’s an ominous sign. Even in the worst days under (former Prime Minister) Mrs. (Indira) Gandhi this didn’t happen”.
Police said six people were arrested after the assault. Sharma, who visited the police station and saw the attackers, said he recognized several as leaders of the Congress Youth Wing.
Tewari’s dismissal came amid a political turmoil.
Article extracted from this publication >> July 31, 1987
