Author: T. S. Sreenivasa Raghavan
Publication: Deccan Chronic
Date: August 8, 2011
URL: http://www.deccanchronicle.com/channels/nation/south/exorcising-godse-ghost-who-killed-mahatma-gandhi-174
The controversy, of course, was ignored by
the national media. However, Thomas' clean to chit to RSS, as expected, has
left the Congress leaders in Kerala fuming.
It's been 63 years since Mahatma Gandhi was
assassinated by Nathuram Godse.
But, who're behind the brutal assassination?
Was it the handiwork of Godse & company or the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh
(RSS)?
The controversial question crops up at regular
intervals in various parts of the country kicking up fresh debates on the
subject.
As for Congress leaders, it's almost an obsession
to blame it on the RSS.
However, when a decisive answer comes from
a non-controversial and apolitical person who besides being a Christian also
happens to be a retired Supreme Court justice, it should prompt one to sit
up and think.
Yes, we're, of course, talking about K.T.Thomas
who recently stirred a hornet's nest when, presiding over an RSS function
in the city, he unequivocally absolved RSS from Ganndhi assassination.
The controversy, of course, was ignored by
the national media. However, Thomas' clean to chit to RSS, as expected, has
left the Congress leaders in Kerala fuming.
Congress state president Ramesh Chennithala
and MLA P.C.Vishnunath lambasted him for 'distorting history.' However, for
the RSS leaders, Thomas' remarks proved like manna from the heaven considering
his stature.
Even as the controversy rages, the questions
still remain: who actually killed Gandhi? Was it the RSS? Those who've read
history will know Godse severed his links with RSS calling it an organization
run by eunuchs.
This being so, is right to point fingers at
RSS, because Godse was its member once? Thomas put it better: "it's like
blaming the whole Sikh community, because, one of its misguided members assassinated
Indira Gandhi."
Is Thomas right in his views? Is RSS speaking
the truth when it says it'd nothing to do with the Gandhi assassination?
Or is it that the Congress leaders have a
point? It's said history is just a bucket of ashes.
But, certainly, the life and times of the
Mahatma continues to defy this dictum, because, in the political parleys truth
comes up with many faces; some shocking, others intriguing while a few really
could irritate.
So, in all likelihood, we'll continue to ask
again and again: who killed Gandhi?
Congress cares for the minority: Justice K
T Thomas
Former Supreme Court justice K.T.Thomas who
came in for severe criticism for his remarks absolving RSS from Mahatma Gandhi
assassination said he still stuck to his gun.
"Godse was part of RSS. But, he'd left
the organization before he killed Gandhi since he found it too soft. So, you
can't blame it on RSS", Thomas told Deccan Chronicle.
Thomas said judiciary in the country, so far,
couldn't find any evidence against RSS. The case was first heard at Red Fort
by Justice Atmacharan who didn't find any RSS link. Nor the bench headed by
Justice Khosle.
"Later, Nehru even ordered a probe which
drew a blank. After this, in 1966 Indira Gandhi ordered judicial probe headed
by Justice JL Kapoor who also couldn't find any RSS connection", Thomas
revealed.
When the whole judicial and democratic means
had been expended, the country should put an end to the debate, he said. "It's
unjust and unfair to drag the RSS name again and again", he said.
He said, the biography written by Robert Payne,
author of The Life and Death of Mahatma Gandhi also couldn't find any RSS
link. "My comment on the subject should be treated as a judicial analysis",
he observed.
Stating that Congress leaders like Chennithala
wouldn't know much about history, he said RSS was still being blamed for minority
votes. "I don't know whether Chennithala had read Robert's work",
he teased.
He further said when Gandhi was assassinated,
the then RSS president Golvarkar was in Madras. "The outfit went into
an immediate mourning. Ideologically, we may differ. But, you can't question
their patriotism", he said.
He recalled visiting the cell in Andamans
in 1997 where Veer Savarkar was lodged for 27 years. "I could see many
poems he'd written on the wall using stone, because, authorities never gave
him anything to write", he recalled.
He reminded that, the freedom people enjoy
today was the result of the sacrifices made by persons like Veer Savarkar.
Can't blame RSS: Gandhi family
Even as Thomas' remark on the Gandhi assassination
continues to make waves, great grandson of Mahatma Gandhi, Sreekrishna Kulkarni
asserted it was not right to link the RSS name.
"In 63 years' time, the Government has
instituted many judicial commissions and committees to investigate the assassination.
None could establish the RSS connection", Sreekrishna told Deccan Chronicle.
He said India is a democracy with a vibrant
and independent judiciary. "The children of Gandhiji have never tried
to obstruct or influence the impartial investigation of this case", he
reminded.
Sreekrishna said it was time people learnt
to respect the judicial findings in the matter and rested the issue. As for
RSS, he said it has contributed immensely to the nation's development.
"It's incorrect to drag the RSS name
repeatedly for petty political reasons", he appealed.
Sreekrishna also revealed that after Bapu's
assassination, his grandfather Ramdas Gandhi had written to Nehru requesting
him not to hang Godse. But Godse was hanged", he said.
RSS will circulate the speech
Rashtriya Swayam Sevak Sangh (RSS) is not
taking kindly the criticism leveled by Congress state president Ramesh Chennithala
and MLA P.C.Vishnunath against the observation made by former Supreme Court
justice K.T. Thomas.
RSS state general secretary P. Gopalan Kutty
master said the Congress leaders would be sued soon on defamatory grounds
for dragging the RSS name into the Mahatma Gandhi assassination episode. "We'll
do that in a day or two", Kutty said.
He said, the country had several commissions
and committees on the issue. "But, none could prove RSS involvement.
Justice K.T.Thomas only spoke the truth", Kutty asserted.
Thomas' speech would be printed into pamphlets
and would be distributed across Kerala, he informed.
Thomas being respected by all sections of
society, Kutty feels that many in the state would want to read the pamphlet.
"If Congress leaders can prove that the RSS was involved in killing the
Mahatma, let them remain deluded. We're ready to take it up as a challenge",
he asserted.
