No proof of RSS link to Bapu killing: Jurist

No proof of RSS link to Bapu killing: Jurist

Aug. 7: The former Supreme Court judge, 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 guns.

“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“, Justice Thomas told this newspaper.

He 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 a judicial probe headed by Justice J.L. Kapoor who also couldn’t find any RSS connection”, he revealed.

When the whole judicial and democratic means had been expended, the country should put an end to the debate, 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 Mr. Ramesh 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 M.S. Golwarkar 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.

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. “

K.T. Thomas ex-SC judge

Spare RSS, Respect Judicial Findings

Aug. 7: Even as Justice (retd.) K.T. Thomas’ remark on the Gandhi assassination makes waves, the great grandson of Mahatma Gandhi, Mr. Sreekrishna Kulkarni, asserted it was not right to link the RSS name.

“In 63 years’ time the Government of India has instituted many judicial commissions and committees to investigate the assassination. None could establish the RSS connection”, Sreekrishna told this newspaper.

“The children of Gandhiji have never tried to obstruct or influence the impartial investigation of this case”, he reminded.

Mr. 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’s also an organization of national stature which had contributed immensely to the nation’s development.

“It’s incorrect to drag the RSS name again and again.

So, it’s my considered view that the matter shouldn’t be raked up again and again for petty political reasons”, he appealed.

Mr. Sreekrishna also revealed that after Bapu’s assassination his grandfather Ramdas Gandhi had written to Nehru requesting him not to hang Godse.

“But, his request was turned down by Nehru,” he revealed.

http://dc-epaper.com/PUBLICATIONS/DC/DCH/2011/08/08/index.shtml?ArtId=009_005&Search=Y