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Evidence of Indian
Government's involvement in the massacres of Sikh civilians in
the aftermath of Indira Gandhi's assassination
Large scale Sikh genocide was being planned by
the top layers of government including Gandhi herself. The plan,
known as Operation Shanti, was to take place around November 8,
as was a surprise attack on Pakistan. Beant Singh, the man who
assassinated Gandhi, heard of Operation Shanti from R. K. Dhawan,
Special Assistant to the Prime Minister and decided to kill
Gandhi. [source: The Sikhs in History by Sangat Singh]
Although her death helped avert a complete genocide of the Sikhs,
the framework for the attack had already been made and the lists
of Sikhs and their businesses in Delhi had already been made.
These lists were handed out to the rioters, who then knew exactly
which shops to burn, which places to loot, and which homes to
destroy. [source: "Who are the Guilty?"]
Police were calling up residents and driving around in jeeps
equipped with loudspeakers telling the population that train
loads of dead Hindu bodies were arriving and that Sikhs were
poisoning Delhi's water supply. These two statements were
officially repudiated by the government and led to an incredibly
high level of tension and hatred of Sikhs by the Hindus. [source:
"Who are the Guilty?"]
Upon arrival at Palam airport in Delhi and hearing of his
mother's assassination, Rajiv Gandhi told those present, "My
mother has been shot dead. What are you doing here? Go, and take
revenge. No turban (distinctive Sikh headdress) should be
seen." [source: The Sikhs in History by Sangat Singh
(talks on November 1, 1984 with a RAW inspector who was present
at the airport)]
A large percentage of the mob was brought from outside the
locality (the Delhi neighborhoods where the rioting took place)
and were transported in vehicles. "In the areas which were
most affected ... the mobs were led by local Congress (I)
politicians." the areas that were affected and had the
largest concentration of looters were strong bases of the
Congress (I) and were the "...network through which masses
are mobilised for demonstration of Congress (I)'s ostensible
popular support." [source: "Who are the
Guilty?"]
The Sikhs in the Delhi police force (20% of the
force) were withdrawn and the Sikh soldiers in Delhi were
disarmed and confined to the barracks. [source: The Sikhs in
History by Sangat Singh]
Even after repeated pleas by various opposition
(non- Congress (I)) members of Parliament to Home Minister (MR.
P. V. Narasimha Rao, now the Prime Minister of India) to bring in
the army to help restore peace, no action was taken to restore
peace until November 3, the day of Gandhi's funeral and also the
day many foreign dignitaries would be in Delhi for the funeral. [source:
"Who are the Guilty?"]
Some politicians not only gave information about the Sikhs, but offered rewards such as 100 rupees and a bottle of liquor to everyone in the mobs (ex: Sajjan Kumar, Congress (I) MP). [source: Who are the Guilty? ]