Wed May 21 01:50:00 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a news article summarizing the provided text, focusing on the events surrounding Rajiv Gandhi’s assassination:
**Rajiv Gandhi’s Death Anniversary Marked by Reflection on Security Lapses, Lingering Questions**
**New Delhi:** On the anniversary of Rajiv Gandhi’s assassination on May 21, 1991, focus returns to the circumstances surrounding his death and the intelligence failures that may have contributed to the tragedy. Gandhi was killed by a suicide bomber from the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) during an election rally in Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu.
Just hours before his assassination, in an interview, Gandhi was asked about the threats to his life. He ominously responded with a question of his own, pointing to a pattern of South Asian leaders who are “attacked” or “killed” when they consolidate power. He cited Indira Gandhi, Sheikh Mujib, Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, and Bandaranaike as examples.
Gandhi’s death was a direct consequence of his decision as Prime Minister to send Indian armed forces to Sri Lanka to quell the Tamil insurgency. Despite initial advice from the Indian High Commission in Colombo and military officials, the intervention failed to subdue the LTTE, and many Indian soldiers lost their lives. This intervention ultimately turned the LTTE against Gandhi.
Intelligence reports intercepted between April 1990 and May 1991 revealed the LTTE’s explicit intent to assassinate Rajiv Gandhi. Specific phrases like “Rajiv Gandhi avarand mandalai addipodalum,” “dump pannidungo,” and “maranai vechidungo” were intercepted, translating to calls to eliminate or “blow up” Rajiv Gandhi. Despite these clear warnings, security measures were inadequate at the rally where he was killed.
Reports highlight a chilling lack of security at the Sriperumbudur rally. Gandhi was freely accepting garlands when he paused to acknowledge a young girl reciting poetry, who was actually part of the assassin squad. The assassin, Dhanu, approached Gandhi under the guise of offering a sandalwood garland and detonated an RDX-laden explosive device strapped to her body.
Rajiv Gandhi became India’s youngest Prime Minister at the age of 40 after the assassination of his mother, Indira Gandhi. He subsequently called elections, and the Congress party secured a landslide victory, winning 414 of 543 Lok Sabha seats – a feat unmatched by his predecessors or any subsequent leader.
His legacy remains complex. Some historians argue that his decision to open the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid site for Hindu worship was a form of “soft Hindutva” aimed at countering criticism over his government’s handling of the Shah Bano case. However, others, including those who served in his administration, claim Gandhi was unaware of the decision to open the site until after it occurred, emphasizing that he believed the government had no right to interfere in religious matters. The anniversary serves as a reminder of the enduring impact of Rajiv Gandhi’s life and legacy on Indian politics.
First Piper 