1984 Delhi Sikh Genocide - Statements

Statement submitted before the Nanavati Commission

Witness No. 148

Name : K.R. Malkani

Age : 80 Years

Occupation : Ex - Member of Parliament (Journalist)

Address : B – 51, New Rajinder Nagar, New Delhi - 110060

On SA

On the next day after the assassination of Mrs Indira Gandhi while I was returning from the office of the BJP on Ashoka Road, I had come to know that some acts of violence had taken place at some places.

While I was on the way to my house, I came across a group of 6 to 8 persons. They had asked me to stop my car. As they appeared to be innocent and seeking lift in the car, I stopped my car and accommodated about 4 persons. They had told me that they are DTC bus conductors and they were told by the police to leave the buses there and go home. They were also told by the police that the train load of Hindu corpses had reached Delhi Railway Station from Punjab.

I did not believe it and to my mind it was deliberate mischief of spreading rumour by the police. On my way I had also seen thick columns of smoke coming out from various places. A young boy on the road had asked me to stop my car and when I had stopped my car, he peeped into it and inquired if there was any Sikh inside.

On that day or the next day, I am not sure, my wife had received a telephone call from my niece from Vasant Vihar and she informed us that the water supply has been poisoned. She had told her that she had come to know about it from others who were also saying that they had come to know about it from the police. The call was received at around mid night. My wife had in turn telephoned her brother and informed him also about it.

Some Sikhs, mostly women and children, were given shelter in ABVP office. When I had gone there, I was told by them that there was no facility it being a ABVP Office to keep families there or to feed them. They had also told me that they had rang up the police to take them away and provide them shelter.

They were told by the police as to why they had kept them (the Sikhs) there. During one of those days I was told that Mr Kohli and others were called by the Station House Officer of Police Station New Rajinder Nagar and asked to keep a watch on Sikh neighbours. Mr Kohli in turn told the same thing to me as Mr Mohan Singh who was staying opposite to my house was a Sikh gentleman. I believe that this was a manner in which fear psychosis was created amongst the people.

During those days a meeting of the National Executive of BJP was held and reports from various States regarding violence against Sikhs were received from the State representatives. Mr Khandelwal reported about number of loss of lives which had taken place in Madhya Pradesh but did not mention anything about the extent of loss caused to the properties there.

Subsequently to that day when I had inquired from him as to why he had not referred to that aspect, he had told me that nobody would have believed it if he had mentioned the extent of loss caused to the properties. He told me that properties worth about 4 00 crores were destroyed, burnt or damaged. Mr Shayam Khosla, Journalist and Mr Krishan Lal Maini had tried to find out from the Senior Government Officers and military officers about what had happened and why.

They had informed them that when Rajiv Gandhi had arrived from outside Delhi i.e. from Calcutta, one of the senior officers had whispered something into his ears and Rajiv Gandhi was heard saying 'Yes, we must teach them a lesson'. Again he had whispered something to Rajiv Gandhi and Gandhi had again said 'Please do not ask me that'. Shyam Khosla is alive. Mr Krishan Lal Maini has died.

In the summer of 1984 I had handed over the manuscript of my book entitled 'Sindh Story' to Kripalani who was my friend. I had given it to him for perusal. After some days he had asked me that if there is any problem if he shows this book to Mr Kaw who was then the RAW Chief. I had told him that I had no objection. He suggested that I should meet Kaw.

When I had met Mr Kaw, after some discussion on my book, he had told me that he apprehended some serious problem from Sikhs. He thought that at some time, at some stage the Sikhs may start killing Hindus. I did not believe him at that time and I also told him so. Since this had come from Mr Kaw I thought that it could not have been said by him unless the Government of India was also thinking on the same lines.

I also believed that in view of this apprehension, Government of India was having contingency plan to deal with such a situation if it arises. I believe that whatever had happened soon after the assassination of Mrs Gandhi was a part of the contingency plan. I am producing an article written by me in Indian Post (taken on record and marked as Ex.148/1).

Cross examination by S.S. Gandhi, Senior Advocate on behalf of Delhi Police

I was told by the persons to whom I had given the lift that they were DTC bus conductors. I do not personally know them but I have no reason to disbelieve them. They were not looking like rumour mongers. I had not heard the rumour about a train load of Hindu corpses from any one else. I had not enquired from the SHO, Police Station New Rajinder Nagar to why he told Mr Kohli and others like that.

No cross examination by Ashok Kashyap, Advocate on behalf of Central Government

Read over and found correct.

(K.R. Malkani) (G.T. Nanavati)

21st January, 2002

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