Opinion November 1, 1984, Forty Years Ago: Indira Gandhi Dead
Indira Gandhi is dead. She was assassinated at her residence on October 31. Two of her security guards, a sub-inspector and constable of the Delhi Police, gunned down the 66-year-old leader who has led the nation for over 15 years.
The PM was attacked as she walked home from her office on the compound.
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Indira Gandhi is dead. She was assassinated at her residence on October 31. Two of her security guards, a sub-inspector and constable of the Delhi Police, gunned down the 66-year-old leader who has led the nation for over 15 years. The PM was attacked as she walked home from her office on the compound.
Rajiv Sworn In As PM
Rajiv Gandhi was sworn in as the Prime Minister by President Zail Singh, along with a four-member interim Cabinet at 6:55 pm on October 31. The swearing-in ceremony at the Ashoka Hall of the Rashtrapati Bhavan was attended by Vice President R Venkataraman, most of the members of the erstwhile cabinet and several chief ministers and governors. Gloom marked the ceremony.
Sikhs Issue Statement
In a statement, several prominent Sikhs condemned the assassination of the Prime Minister: “No society, least of all a society like ours with its long traditions of spiritualism, scholarship and humanism, can allow black deeds of murderous folly to destroy its civilised fabric. We condemn in unequivocal terms the dastardly attempt on the life of the Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, to which she tragically fell victim. We consider such an act, and what it is likely to trigger off, a grave threat to the country’s integrity and unity.”
Sikhs Attacked
The government late on October 31 alerted the Army and called out the Border Security Force and the Central Reserve Police Force to control the widespread rioting and arson in parts of the Capital following the assassination of Indira Gandhi. The main targets of the rioting mobs were Sikhs. At least 30 Sikhs were admitted to various hospitals in the city.
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