NEW DELHI: The non bailable warrant issued in connection with the 1984 riots against the erstwhile strongman of the Delhi Congress, Mr.K.L, Bhagat, is unlikely to have an impact on the fortunes of the party in the capital.
There are some of his party colleagues who cynically believe that the court’s action against Mr. Bhagat last week could benefit the Congress because it is expected to somewhat assuage the gravely hurt Sikh sentiments over the riots. “Inflection year, ‘what better balm can the party offer the still angry Sikh community?” a senior Delhi Congress leader commented.
‘The arrest warrant comes over 11 years after the riots and coincides ‘with Mr, Bhagat’s marginalization in the party. He had emerged as a leader of consequence in the wake of the Allahabad High Court judgment that unseated Indira Gandhi in 1975.
Mr. Bhagat gained the center stage of the Delhi politics as a deft rally manager. His forte was his ability to assemble hordes from Delhi’s jhuggi jhonpr is at a short notice for public demonstrations of support for India Gandhi whenever she was under attack from the Opposition. With every rally, Mr. Bhagat emerged stronger. On Indira Gandhi’s return to power, he managed a berth in the Union cabinet, as the then Minister for Works and Housing, later rechristened Ministry for Urban Affairs.
Rajiv Gandhi, during his tenure as Prime Minister, rewarded Mr. Bhagat. with the Information and Broadcasting Ministry. Party sources maintained at that point that the youthful leader had relied on Mr, Bhagat only because of his record as a dependable Indira loyalist. However, Mr. Bhagat’s fortunes dwindled with the death of Rajiv Gandhi, The east Delhi Lok Sabha seat which had returned Mr. Bhagat to power by a record margin in 1984, sent him hurtling to defeat by a big margin in 1991. Mr. Narasimha Rao then coldshouldered him, Mr. Bhagat’s pleas for a posting as governor in any state fell on deaf ears, With his political clout waning, even his own party colleagues in the Delhi Congress many who owed their political careers to his patronage advocated that he be kept away from active politics.
Article extracted from this publication >> January 24, 1996
