Why didn't Sikh leaders condemn murder of "great martyr" Indira Gandhi?, asked RSS idelogue Nanani Deshmukh

By Our Representative
In a controversial article which is likely to raise many an eyebrow, brought to light by well-known rebel topcop Sanjiv Bhatt on his Facebook page to mark the ghastly murder of Indira Gandhi on October 31, 1984 and the subsequent mayhem of anti-Sikh massacre, top RSS ideologue late Nanaji Deshmukh has said that Indira Gandhi had secured “a permanent place at the doorstep of history as a great martyr.”
Deshmukh, whose article was published in George Fernandes' Hindi weekly “Hastakshep” on November 8, 1984, said that Indira Gandhi's “dynamism borne out of her fearlessness and dexterity”, adding she was able to “take the country forward like a colossus for over a decade and was able to build an opinion that she alone understood the realities of the country.”
Further praising her, Deshmukh said, “She alone had the ability to run the decadent political system of our corrupt and divided society, and probably that she alone could keep the country united. She was a great lady and her death as a brave leader had added to her greatness.”
Deshmukh, whose article, says Bhatt, was translated by one Shamsul Islam and is titled “Moments of Soul Searching”, said, “She was killed by a person in whom she kept faith despite several complaints. Such an influential and busy personality was killed by a person who had the duty to protect her person.”
He added, “This act came as a blow not only to her admirers in the country and the world but also her critics. This cowardly and treacherous act of killing not only ended the life of a great leader but also killed, in the name of the Panth, the mutual faith of humanity.”
“Explosion of sudden arson and violent hysteria throughout the country was probably a directionless and improper expression of the hurt, anger and feeling of loss of her followers. Lakhs of her followers used to see her as the only defender, powerful protector, and a symbol of united India”, Deshmukh said.
Pointing out what it was a “different matter” whether what happened was “right or wrong”, Deshmukh said, “For these innocent and uninformed followers, the treacherous murder of Indira Gandhi was the tragic culmination of the poisonous campaign of separatism, antagonism and violence conducted over the previous three years in which hundreds of innocents had to lose their invaluable lives and the sanctity of religious places was destroyed.”
Sharply criticizing those who condemned the raiding of the Golden Temple, from where the "dreaded" Bhindranwale operated, Deshmukh said, “The army action was compared to the 'gallu ghara' action of Ahmed Shah Abdali in 1762 to desecrate the Harmandir Sahib”, and this unfortunately pushed her “into the category of Ahmed Shah Abdali.”
“She was termed the enemy of the Sikh panth and big prizes were announced on her head. On the other hand, Bhindrawale who was guilty of heinous crimes against humanity in the name of religion was hailed as a martyr”, Deshmukh said.
“Open display of such feelings in different parts of the country and abroad played a special role in increasing the distrust and alienation between the Sikhs and the rest of Indians. In the background of this distrust and alienation, stunned and bewildered people accepted the validity of the rumours of celebrations by the Sikhs at the heinous murder of Indira Gandhi by her Sikh bodyguards in retaliation of the army action”, Deshmukh said.
Deshmukh went on, “No immediate and natural condemnation of this despicable statement by an important leader came from responsible Sikh leaders, intellectuals or organization. Therefore the already angered common and unimaginative people took it as correct that the Sikhs celebrated the death of Indira Gandhi. Because of this belief, selfish elements could succeed in making the common people become violent against the hapless Sikhs.”
“This was a most explosive situation which needed utmost patience and skillful conduct on behalf of our Sikh brothers. I am saying this, being a life member of the RSS, because on January 30, 1948 a Hindu fanatic, who was a Marathi and had no relation with the RSS, rather was a bitter critic of the Sangh, committed unfortunate killing of Mahatma Gandhi”, Deshmukh admitted.
“On this occasion we also suffered the sudden eruption of hysteria, loot and atrocities of misdirected people”, Deshmukh said, adding, “We ourselves saw how selfish elements who were well acquainted with this incident, deliberately declared a murderer to be a member of the RSS and also spread the rumour that the RSS people were celebrating throughout the country death of Mahatma Gandhi, and thus they succeeded in diverting the love and the feeling of loss and hurt in the hearts of people for Gandhi.”

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