RSS instigated assassination bid on first Indian army chief: CIA files
NEW DELHI: In
what could be sensational revelations for many Indians and a huge
embarrassment for the Modi government, the recently released CIA files
have claimed that the rightwing Hindu Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS)
had instigated northern army officers to plot an assassination bid on
the country’s first army commander Gen K.M. Cariappa, who was from the
southern region of Coorg.
The revelations were first published in the Hindi daily
Jansatta on Friday, but this correspondent corroborated the story with
the United States Central Intelligence Agency files that were recently
released under President Barrack Obama’s orders.
“Rift in the officer corps of the Indian army,” was the headline of the redacted file dated June 12, 1950.
“An
attempt to assassinate General Cariappa, Commander in Chief of the
Indian Army, was made during the General’s recent inspection tour of
East Punjab. Six persons have been sentenced to death in connection with
the plot; several high army officers are believed involved,” the CIA
noted.
“General Cariappa as a South Indian is resented
by Sikh officers of the Indian Army. The RSS is capitalising on the
North-South rift among army officers, whom informant considers
treacherous and unreliable, to spread dissension. Officers from
Travancore, Maharashtra and Madras are invariably loyal to General
Cariappa.”
Another file made public, but whose date has
been deleted, carries a photocopy of the Bombay-based Blitz weekly, an
erstwhile popular tabloid once considered close to Moscow.
It quotes a CIA researcher as struggling to unravel the standoff between Pakistan and India over Kashmir.
He
goes on to ponder if India should opt for temporary military rule as
Gen Cariappa had suggested. The general was field marshal in 1965 when
he apparently made the remarks. Military officers of both countries went
to school together and fought side by side in World War II, the report
said. They would be able to resolve the issues dogging them.
According
to the Blitz story quoting the CIA researcher, Gen Cariappa had
pondered that a short stint of military rule in India would help deal
with the communist threat and also tackle regional troubles. The latter
issue may have been inspired by his experience in Punjab where he was
nearly killed in a plot, which was staged by fellow officers, according
to the CIA.
Gen Cariappa belonged to the Coorgi region
of proud soldiers, which is now part of the southern state of Karnataka.
He is idolised by the Coorgis as a great national hero.
Prime
Minister Narendra Modi credits his political moorings to his training
as a member of the RSS. He was campaigning in the poll-bound Punjab on
Friday. Former army officers have been fielded by several parties in
Indian elections.
A former Sikh army chief is one of the
candidates for the ruling coalition of Bharatiya Janata Party and Akali
Dal in the assembly polls due on Feb 4.
The RSS is the
ideological fountainhead of the BJP and it denies periodic charges of
having a role in the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi.
To view Dawn.com's compilation of extracts from the declassified CIA documents, click here.
Published in Dawn January 28th, 2017
