The tale of Rajiv Gandhi's assassination is intricate and disputed. It revolves around the murder of India's former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi by a suicide bomber from the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), a militant organization from Sri Lanka, on May 21, 1991, in Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu. Supposedly, the LTTE sought retribution against Gandhi for deploying the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) to Sri Lanka in 1987, a move that reportedly led to human rights abuses against Sri Lankan Tamils.
The narrative surrounding the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi is intricate and laden with controversy. Numerous facets and perspectives remain shrouded in ambiguity or subject to disagreement. Here, we delve into some of the enigmatic spaces within this tale.
The motive and mastermind behind Rajiv Gandhi's assassination remain a puzzle without a clear solution. While most point to the LTTE, a militant group battling the Sri Lankan government, as the culprits, there's a shadowy realm of other possibilities. Picture this: The LTTE's involvement is like a bold stroke on a canvas, but there are faint outlines suggesting more complexity. Foreign intelligence agencies could be playing a behind-the-scenes role, adding a layer of intrigue. Even within the political sphere, rival parties and dissatisfied factions within Congress could have contributed their own hues to the narrative. In essence, Rajiv Gandhi's assassination is a tapestry woven with threads of uncertainty, leaving us to contemplate the intricate weave of motives and players that may have converged in that moment.
Sivarasan alias One-Eyed Jack: His enigmatic journey and ultimate destiny add another layer of uncertainty. He held a prominent position as the head of LTTE's intelligence division and led the lethal unit responsible for the assassination. However, the narrative around him dissolves into shadows.
According to the official account, Sivarasan met his end in a police confrontation in Bangalore on August 19, 1991, accompanied by his associates. But, like a mirage in the desert, doubts ripple through this version. Questions surface about the very essence of his identity and whether he truly departed this world or continued to breathe. Certain accounts say, prior to the murder of Rajiv Gandhi, Sivarasan purportedly entrusted a substantial sum of money to an individual named Ranganathan in Bhopal. Allegedly, this money formed a portion of the funds provided to the LTTE by Pakistan's ISI for executing the assassination. Subsequently, Ranganathan was apprehended by the CBI and conceded his involvement in the conspiracy.
However, doubts and incongruities also cast shadows over this assertion. Notably, Ranganathan's confession wasn't formally recorded by a magistrate, and he later withdrew it. Additionally, Sivarasan's diary, discovered following his suicide, contained no reference to any financial transaction in Bhopal. As a result, the truth regarding this elusive piece of the puzzle remains elusive. Thus, Sivarasan's story weaves an intricate web of its own, spun from threads of conjecture and ambiguity, leaving us to wonder about the true fate of this central figure in the labyrinthine tale.
Murugan alias Sriharan: The evidence and investigation in the case have faced scrutiny and skepticism from different quarters. Central to the case was the confession of one of the convicts, Murugan (also known as Sriharan), who initially admitted involvement in the assassination plot and implicated several others. However, he later recanted, asserting that the confession was extracted through police torture and pressure. The investigation itself was tainted by allegations of evidence tampering, destruction, and fabrication. This included critical elements like the suicide bomber's belt bomb, visual documentation of the blast site, forensic findings, and testimonies from witnesses.
DMK leader Karunanidhi: Whether DMK leader Karunanidhi was linked to Rajiv Gandhi's assassination is a hotly debated topic. Some say he had connections with the LTTE, the group responsible for the murder, and that he canceled a public event on the same day as Gandhi's visit, raising suspicions. But others argue he wasn't directly involved and even called for a thorough investigation after a CBI official's confession mistake came to light. This situation is tangled and unclear, leaving us to ponder the different sides of the story.
Tantrik Chandraswami: The involvement of Chandraswami, a controversial spiritual leader and advisor to former Prime Minister Narasimha Rao, in Rajiv Gandhi's assassination is a topic of disagreement that has not been settled. Some suggest that he provided funds to the LTTE for the murder, as part of a bigger plan involving various terrorist groups.
Both the Jain Commission and the Multi-Disciplinary Monitoring Agency (MDMA) of the CBI connected Chandraswami to the plot to assassinate Rajiv Gandhi, involving international collaborators. However, the trustworthiness of these claims is uncertain, as they were criticized by some experts and politicians for being biased and faulty. Additionally, Chandraswami was never officially charged or proven guilty for his alleged role in the case. He passed away in 2017 at the age of 66.
Ramnath Goenka, publisher of Indian Express: Subramanian Swamy alleges in his book "The Assassination of Rajiv Gandhi: Unanswered Questions and Unasked Queries" that Chandraswami and Karunanidhi met in Goenka’s penthouse to plot Rajiv Gandhi’s murder. But it is not based on any evidence or official investigation. Subramanian Swamy also implies Sonia's involvement in the assassination citing her attitude and behavior towards the tragedy.
TADA court versus Supreme Court: The trial and subsequent verdict in this case have sparked controversy and stirred debates. Initially, a specialized court established under the umbrella of the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act (TADA) held jurisdiction, endowing law enforcement with extensive powers and the ability to impose severe penalties. In 1998, this court handed down convictions to 26 individuals, imposing death sentences. However, a subsequent turn of events added further complexity.
In 1999, the Supreme Court endorsed only four death sentences, commuting three to life imprisonment. The remaining 19 were acquitted due to insufficient evidence. The four individuals on death row later submitted pleas for clemency to the President of India, a process that lingered for more than two decades. In 2014, the Supreme Court altered their sentences to life imprisonment, citing prolonged delays in addressing their petitions. Finally, in 2022, following more than three decades behind bars, a Supreme Court directive granted their plea for remission, leading to their release.
Conclusion
All in all, the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case remains unsettled with many unanswered questions. Its investigation is tainted by allegations of evidence tampering, destruction, and fabrication. This is sad considering that the Government of that age which was connected with assassinated PM did not exhibit the due care and diligence necessary to ensure a fair investigation into this tragic episode which in itself raises speculations about insider involvement.
What is also surprising is that Sonia financed the convict Nalini's daughter's education in England and that she along with her son Rahul and daughter Priyanka have forgiven the assassins. There is something other than altruism at work here considering the whopping corruption of the Congress administration during the UPA regime in the decade ending May 2014.
