gaddam@remus.rutgers.edu (Surekha Reddy Gaddam) (05/22/91)
3:00am IST Wednesday - ( Hyderabad). The following is the editorial of "DECCAN CHRONICAL". Please note that I got their editorial while the news was still in print and the papers are yet to be delivered. It was read out by one of the associate editors Mr.M.P.Rabindranath. The nation is dazed and dumb struck. Not enough words to express. The man who would have in a few days assumed the reigns of the the prime ministership of this country should not have been killed in such circumstances as he was addressing an election meeting in Tamilnadu. His untimely death threw the country in to utter chaos and confusion. From all focus Mr.RG was leading his Cong(I) party to a great victory at the hustings. Whovevr was behind this dastardly attack but the 900 million people of India were looking for the stewardship of Mr.Gandhi to salvage the rot that effects the body of politics. It is not clear how it all happend but there is no doubut that it is one of those fields of security lapse and the case of the future prime minister there ought to have these super special precuationary measures considering the climate of violence and the presence of LTTE in T.N., although it can not be such for certainity but it could be the handi work of of Srilankan militants. The whole nation weeps for Mrs.Sonia Gandhi and her children in grief. While it is a personal tragedy for the Gandhi family the whole country is in tears. The Nehru family lived and died for the country. Mrs.Gandhi was assassinated, her younger son ( Sanjay Gandhi) was killed in a plane crash and Mr.RG's end was brought about on Tuesday night. First report suggested that a bomb was planted through a remote control device. Whatever the tragedies and the calamities that may befall, the nation must face them bravily. For such is the only way a country can grow. Now is the time for the people of India to maintain cool keeping their emotions under check. This should at the same time serve as a as a warning to those who have been indulging in haste campaign. The process of elections have to be completed and nothing should come in the way of a popular govt. And a word to Congress men. A great responsiobility rests on them and they should throw-up a leader of national stature in this hour of distress. The associate editor Mr.M.P.Rabindranath was kind enough to read out other details of this tragic event. Gandhi arrived in to Vishakapattanam from Orissa. He addressed a public meetings in Vishakapattanam, Srikakulam, Vizayanagaram and finally in Vishakapattanam on Tuesday before 11:00. He was cautioned by the air port authorities not to leave because of the turbulent weather and some technical snags in the aircraft. Mr.Gandhi decided to stay in the guest house in Vishakapattanam. But later a wireless message was received indicating that the technical snag has been rectified. Mr.Gandhi decided to leave for Madras. The gutsy former pilot left for Madras in his KING-13 air breeze air craft at 7:30pm IST on Tuesday. He was accompanied by the Andhra Pradesh Chief minister Mr.Janardhan Reddy. Mr.Reddy later left to Tirupati from Madras and Mr.Gandhi headed for Siriperumbudur where while rushing through the crowds, the bomb exploded killing the former prime minister on the spot. According to the first report, Mr.Gandhi's body was dismembered and was beyond recognition. His body was later flown to Delhi. Along with Mr.Gandhi, five police men including a superintendent of Police were killed, The candidate Mrs.Maragadham Chandrashekar for whom Mr.Gandhi was campaigning is reported to be in very serious condition. I"ll post as more and more details are made available. "India is a great country where troubles flare up, but die down in in their trails" - John K. Galbraith - former US Ambassador to India (61-63) on CNN this evening. Narotham Reddy.