Arun Gandhi
What is the real intention behind Phadnis’s petition? Is it a move to twist the truth?
Yes, most certainly. The RSS thought the assassination of Gandhiji would obliterate his memory, but seemingly from the grave he continues to haunt his detractors. The RSS is struggling with this at various levels. In the west, they have started a vilification campaign by pulling out of context the word “kafir” when referring to black Africans in South Africa to paint him as a racist; and the experiment with brahmacharya to depict him as a womaniser. What they don’t want people to know is that Gandhiji was not a Mahatma from birth. He became a Mahatma by transforming his weaknesses to strengths. Even then, he was not happy being referred to as Mahatma because to the end he believed he was not perfect, that he still had a long way to go. This PIL is just another attempt to rewrite history.
At least one must admit that Nathuram had the courage of his convictions. He never denied what he did.
Do you think Savarkar had an active role in the murder plot?
Of course he played a significant part in planning and encouraging the assassination. Savarkar was always a more radical and militant person. He is responsible for the hate and prejudice that the RSS stood for and practised. The only reason he was let off by the Kapur Commission was that there was no tangible evidence linking him to the actual assassination. But he planted the idea, encouraged its growth. If a father brings up a child to be a murderer, the law will not punish the father but the son, because he committed the actual act. But morally, the father is as guilty as son.
Phadnis alleges foreign hands behind the murder.
This has been a popular pastime with all politicians. Ever since the 50s when I was a journalist at The Times of India everything that was wrong in India was blamed on the CIA or the Russian spy agency. It still persists.
The Supreme Court has appointed an amicus curiae to check whether a new commission should be appointed to inquire into the Gandhi murder plot. What do you think the outcome of this would be?
I hope the Supreme Court realises that there are much more important and long-standing issues that need their attention. Getting involved in such blatantly frivolous and nonsensical litigation is diverting their attention from other matters of importance.
