Rajiv Gandhi, The Prime Minister continues....

The new Prime Minister swiftly took action to control the explosive situation. Violence soon ended due to the strong steps taken by the Government. However, the situation in the country was still extremely grave.

The large-scale violence against the Sikhs had created a situation that needed to be dealt with tact and wisdom. There were reports about some sort of rebellion by some Sikh soldiers in the wake of the army action in the Golden Temple. The Government needed to be extremely careful in dealing with the aftermath of the assassination of Smt. Gandhi as well

as the killing of the Sikhs. Grit and determination was what was required

in the leadership to deal with such a situation. The wound was fresh in the

hearts of the people. A tiny spark would be enough to cause a huge conflagration.

The whole sequence of events beginning from unabated terrorist violence in Punjab and Delhi, the entry of the army into the Golden Temple, the killing of terrorists and their leader Sant Bhindrawalle by the

army, to the assassination of Indira Gandhi had created a peculiar psychological atmosphere. Terrorism and the demand for Khalistan was viewed by people in general as a grave threat to the unity of the country.

They wanted firm action from the Government to stamp out terrorism.

They wanted it to do everything in its power to preserve unity. The assassination of Indira Gandhi united the nation in an unprecedented way.

And Rajiv Gandhi became the symbol of that united India. The people rallied behind him, listened to him and empathized with him.

To be continued.....