On Wedesday’ 31st October 1984, Indiraji was going towards her Safdarganj based house. After crossing the main door, she stanted walking on the nearly footpath. Then suddenly two of her Sikh bodyguards started firing indiscriminately on her with strainfun and 38 Bore Pistol. Full of blood, she at once fell down. She was immeditely taken to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences where doctors tried then best but they couldn’t save her. The doctors declared her dead at about 2:30 PM. the people didn’t believe this news to be true. The news spread like a fire in whole country. The compound of All India Institute of Medical Sciences has join-packed with people. Along with Delhi, entire country mourned on her brutal assassination. Vice President Shri R. Venkataraman gave a condolevce message to the nation on ‘Akashvani’—
“At about 9:15 AM, our Prime Minister had been killed by her bodyguards. Today wersed had lost a great leader. Indira had lost her most talented Prime Minister. Indiraji ahd been leved by crores of Indians which cannot be forgotten. I request you all to maintain peace and Commercial harmoney”.
At that time Rajiv was not in Delhi. he was on a tour of west Bengal. He received the news of brutal act there only. He immediately rushed to Delhi and had to contented only with the dead body of his mother.
Congress Parliamentary Committee called on an emergency meeting. In the meeting Rajiv was unanimously chosen as the President of the Committee. He was shown in as Prime Minister iof India. He took the oath from President Gyani Zail Singh. His cabinet members had decided that the funeral willbe performed in Shanti-Van adjaeent to the grave of Jawarharlal Nehru. The body of Indiraji was kept for last night in Teen Murti Bhawan. A national morning of 12 days was declared. During these days the flags on every office wil be half bent.
Thousands of people gathered around Teen Murit Bhawan to express their heartfelt condolence. Many of them were weeping. Every where was only one slogan— “Jab Tak Suraj Chand Rahega, Indira Tera Naam Raega.” At last her dead body was taken to Shanti-Van for femeral. 2104 representatives of five continetns participated in this sadful event. Among them there were Prime Minister of more than 100 countries along with special dignatinies.
In deep grief Rajiv lighted the pyre. All the amymen suneunding the Shanti-Van salnted her by tilling their guns. Armed soldiers fired three nounds shots in air.
When Indiraji was alive, then she called herself the daughter of Mountains. She had great love for “Himalayas”. Hence, her ashes were scattered over the Himalayas.
The opposition parties naver thought that Rajiv will became the President of Congress Parliamentary Commite after Indira’s death. On the first day when Rajiv entered the Prime Minister office, he at once alerted the administrative system. Apart from this he also declared the date of 8th general elections on 12th November 1984 because Rajiv had to achieve mass support. Except Punjab and Assam, all the flates ad general elections. In the elections Rajiv’s Congress (I) party secused a recevd 401 seats out of 508. It was the result of a long election campaign. Rajiv travelled tirelessly from one state to another spoke at 250 meetings in different places and meeting millions face to face. On 21st December 1984, Rajiv had taken oath with his colleagves. At 40, Rajiv was the youngest Prime Minister of India. These elections had proved people’s live for Rajiv even Jawaharlal didn’t got to much support as Rajiv. The pro,ems/issues on the basis of whcih he baught elections were—
1. Militancey in Punjab.
2. Anti-reservation agitation in Gujarat.
3. Infiltration in Assam.
He was modern minded, deeisive and wanted new technologies at home. He main objectives besides presewing India’s unity, was to drive it into 21st century. Rajiv also layed out national education policy. He wanted to erase corruption so that people should develop. When Rajiv became the Prime Minister, his political background was almost nil. He never ever leaded in freedom struggle nor went to jail for the cause of peedum like his grandfather. He never had the experience of ministerial or preisdential post like his mother. He only had the experience of his own attracting personaliting. His developed thoughts were enough for the people.
After becaming the Prime Minister, Rajiv received lots of greetings from world leaders. The Chief Mayer of New York said that Rajiv is intelligent and capable. Now he stured cooperate us on our efferts towards world peace. According to ‘Sunday Times’ — “The damages caused by Indira’s death can only be fulfilled by Rajiv.”
Rajiv didn’t want to spoil the zonal and Religions balance made by Indiraji. So he included old leaders in his cabine. If he had included his private advisers/assistants into cabinet, this would not have been good for the old leaders and may result into fraction of party members. Hence he didn’t gave any place to his assistants. Same persons had an opinion that his mother’s tragic death is the reason for his huge mandate and people voted hum on sympatheic ground. But Rajiv never forced the prople as Prime Minster’s son but with his own evehanting personality. The enthusiastie support he received from the public was the result of his developing thoughts.
