In a sensational claim that may bring into limelight cracks in the relationship between the army and the ruling class in the past, a former Army commander has claimed that there was a plan to topple Rajiv Gandhi's government in 1987. An army coup was planned to execute the operation, reports a leading daily.

COMMERCIAL BREAK
SCROLL TO CONTINUE READING

According to the report, Lt. Gen. PN Hoon has alleged that former Army chief General Krishnaswami Sundarji and former vice chief of Army Lt. Gen. S F Rodrigues, who went on to become Army chief were also involved in the plot. Citing Hoon's book, The Untold Truth, the report also claims that the plan was hatched at the behest of a few senior politicians.

It also states that President Giani Zail Singh had blamed Rajiv Gandhi for corruption and negligence​ in his farewell function hosted by the then Punjab Governor in 1987. Singh also believed Rajiv was not sympathetic towards the victims of anti-Sikh riots of 1984.

When Hoon received a message that a letter had been received at command headquarters from army HQ seeking three para-commando battalions, Hoon immediately briefed Rajiv and his principal secretary Gopi Arora about the development.

"I also explained to them how dangerous this move could be, not only for the country, but also for our political system," report quotes Hoon as saying. According to Hoon, the late VC Shukla, who was one of the members of Rajiv's cabinet, was aware of all the developments. According to Hoon, Zail Singh didn't proceed with the plan as he thought the baton of power may formally shift to the armed forces. 

However, not all agreewith Hoon's sensational claim. In the report, Air Marshal Randhir Singh, a veteran of many wars, disagrees with Hoon and says there had never been any attempt at military coup.