NEW DELHI: The 12 months 1984 is a defining second in Sikh historical past however may occasions have taken a unique course? A brand new e-book suggests there have been home windows of alternative to manage militant preacher Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, however these had been squandered as a result of “politics and politicians got here in the best way of battle decision”. Within the months main as much as Operation Blue Star, then PM Indira Gandhi wished her son Rajiv to secretly meet and negotiate with Bhindranwale. Two conferences had been even arrange by then Congress MP Amarinder Singh between 1982-84 however they by no means materialised as a result of Indira was nervous that her son’s life could be at risk.The last-minute cancellation of the conferences infuriated Bhindranwale, who later moved into the Golden Temple in Amritsar, setting the stage for Operation Blue Star, Gandhi’s assassination and the 1984 riots, making the 12 months among the many bloodiest in India’s political historical past.“I arrange the assembly twice. The primary time [in 1982], I picked up Rajiv and we drove to the Safdarjung airport the place a particular plane was to fly us to the Ambala Air Pressure station, the place Bhindranwale was already ready for us. We had been recalled earlier than we may attain the airstrip. I needed to make up a narrative and informed Bhindranwale that we couldn’t make it as a result of the airplane had developed a technical snag,” Singh says in an interview to journalist Harinder Baweja in her e-book ‘They Will Shoot You, Madam: My Life By means of Battle’.The e-book says, “Inside a fortnight, Amarinder picked up Rajiv Gandhi once more. They had been to, as soon as once more, go to the Ambala Air Pressure station the place Bhindranwale had already reached. This time, Amarinder was positive they might make it for the assembly. They had been airborne, and on their approach, however the pilot acquired a radio message asking him to return.”In line with Singh, the second assembly was aborted as a result of Gandhi had been informed by then Punjab CM Darbara Singh that there have been plans to ambush Rajiv. He claims Rajiv shared this with him. The e-book says, “Amarinder additionally suspects that Darbara Singh, who had favoured Bhindranwale’s arrest, wished to get again to his bête noire, Zail Singh and that he was the one who informed Mrs Gandhi to not let her son stroll into the lure.”One other misplaced alternative was in 1981. Bhindranwale was arrested for the homicide of Punjab Kesari editor Lala Jagat Narain, however launched inside weeks after dwelling minister Zail Singh informed Parliament there was no proof towards him. “As soon as free, Bhindranwale went to Delhi to have a good time. He was accompanied by near 100 supporters who overtly brandished their weapons. Dwelling Minister Zail Singh made no try and rearrest him; nor did Prime Minister Indira Gandhi,” writes Baweja. “The seniormost politicians of the nation catapulted Bhindranwale right into a hero. The genie was now out of the bottle.”