AMN
NEW DELHI: Indira Gandhi had a premonition about her death just days before she was assassinated and confided to her close associate M L Fotedar that she saw the possibility of Priyanka Gandhi emerging as her political legatee over time — a suggestion that did not seem to go down well with Sonia Gandhi.
Revealing the dramatic circumstances of Indira’s last days, Fotedar said she had visited Kashmir in late October 1984, drawn by a fondness of the change of season scenery and a desire to visit a Hindu and a Muslim shrine that the late leader reposed particular faith in. She was assassinated in Delhi on October 31, 1984.
The old time Gandhi loyalist’s recollections are due to be made public soon in the form of a book ‘Chinar Leaves’ that will be released on October 30 in the Capital. Fotedar seems to support former minister Natwar Singh’s claim that family pressure rather than an “inner voice” was the reason for Sonia declining the prime minister’s post in 2004.
“She saw a sign at the Hindu shrine that made her feel that her life was coming to an end. On the way back to the rest house in a car, she said as much. Then, in a thoughtful mood, she said Priyanka might be cut out for politics… that she might be successful and be in power for a long time,” Fotedar told in an interview to a newspaper.