NEW DELHI: For the first time a dissident Congress (I) man, Dharamdass Shastri, has exposed what amounted to a conspiracy hatched by a few of Congress (I) leaders to massacre countless Sikhs in November 1984.

Shastri has been expelled from the ruling party for contesting against the official candidate of the party from Karol Bagh seat. He had warned party leaders that he would expose the culprits if he was expelled from the party. He said those also had opposed the election of Pranab Mukherji as Prime Minister, after the assassination of Mrs. Indira Gandhi was really behind the anti-Sikh riots. According to Shastri Mrs. Gandhi breathed her last at 10 a.m on Oct 31. Dr.Malik told me that Gandhi had dies. For seven hours the Prime Minister’s post remained vacant. Rajiv Gandhi was not in town that day. When he returned from Calcutta, Rajiv Gandhi was received at the airport by Bhagat, Tytler, Maken, Arjun Dass who incited mobs to attack and kill as many Sikhs as possible. This was told to me by youth Congress (I) workers, Shastri said.

The then President, Giani Zail Singh went to Safdarjung hospital to inquire after Mrs. Gandhi. His car was stoned near INA market. That was arranged by Arjun Dass. Giani Zail Singh became nervous. Arun Nehru took Giani Zail to the fourth floor of the hospital. He showed the flames all around in Delhi to Gianiji. He threatened a big massacre of Sikhs if the president did not appoint Rajiv Gandhi as prime minister in the interests of unity of the country. Giani Zail Singh asked as to how Rajiv Gandhi could be made prime minister when he was not even leader of the ruling party. According to Shastri, he was at that time with Charanjit Singh. The latter and Jag Pravesh were together and were trapped in Shastri’s house the looting spree was on in INA market, and in Shadhra, BJP people were also involved in this. The looters were being led by Chaudhry Balbir Singh and Ganga Sahai Bairya. The additional police commissioner H.C Jat was also involved. His aim was to get Congress (I) nomination for his wife from.

 

Article extracted from this publication >> May 24, 1991