Was Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi unaware of the unlocking of Babri?

Wajahat Habibullah, who was in the PMO during the Rajiv years, in his forthcoming book offers an account of what happened among Rajiv, Arun Nehru and Vir Bahadur Singh over the unlocking of Babri masjid-Ramjanmbhoomi site.

- RASHEED KIDWAI

Contrary to a popular perception, Prime minister Rajiv Gandhi was not aware of the unlocking of Babri Masjid – Ramjanambhoomi in February 1986, claims a book written by close Rajiv’s friend Wajahat Habibullah.

Habibullah’s assertion is similar to another close aide of Rajiv Gandhi, Mani Shankar Aiyar. In his recent book, “The Rajiv I Knew And Why He Was India’s Most Misunderstood Prime Minister” [Juggernaut], the career diplomat turned politician said the Congress party and not former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi was responsible for unlocking of Babri Masjid gates and asserted that the a “BJP-planted” Arun Nehru was behind it.

Habibullah, IAS from J&K cadre was in Rajiv Gandhi’s PMO. In his tell-all memoirs, “My Years With Rajiv Gandhi –Triumph and Tragedy” [Westland Publications] when he asked the then prime minister whether he was involved in the decisions leading up to this unlocking, Rajiv’s answer was direct and instant, “No Government has any business to interfere in matters like determination of the functioning of places of worship. I knew nothing of this development till I was told of it after the orders had been passed and executed.”

Habibullah’s book is likely to come out in October this year.