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Rajiv Gandhi felt a pang of conscience fill his soul. "Do not go to Tamil Nadu" it begged and begged. Many of his advisors did not understand why Gandhi felt such a burden not to go down to Tamil Nadu specifically. They understood that the Sri Lankan conflict deepened and hardened the old wounds of the Tamils, and anger of such magnitude was of political prudence in an election where the Congress party so desperately depended on winning in order to maintain its traditional dominance in the now 44 year old nation.

MJ Akbar, Rajya Sabha* MP and personal advisor of Rajiv Gandhi said, "We have a slight lead in Tamil Nadu, with our AIADMK allies. If we can dominate the state and its 39 seats, we shall be on a strong fitting to form the next government and kick out those Janata Dal fools once and for all."

Turning his head towards his surprisingly anxious advisor, Rajiv Gandhi stated "My mother went against the regional interests in Punjab for the nation and was killed by a Khalistani extremist."

Stunned, since Akbar and his whole staff hoped for those memories, only seven years old, not to resurface, replied as best he could, "Gandhiji, please remember that the security forces are that much more aw-"

Rajiv cut off his astute advisor with his fiery response, "do you not trust my gut? My mother was the Iron Lady of India. She dealt with that snake Nixon and was able to defeat our eternal enemy Pakistan by splitting their godforsaken nation in two! She destroyed Bhundewale at his game, foiling Pakistan and it's collaborators at every turn. If even she could be mowed down, let us not expect that my fate differ!".

MJ Akbar was reaching all the corners of his mind, trying to find an answer both respectful and reassuring. After all, he was addressing the scion of India's greatest dynasty, his political superior by all real measures. His efforts were elbowed out by Rajiv's next comment.

"Just four years ago, when I visited Sri Lanka, I was about to be murdered by that bhenchod Vijitha Rohala*! It was my gut that told me trouble was ahead, that was what saved my life! No, Akbarji, I respect your intuition, but my very soul pleads me to stay away as far from Tamil Nadu until the election's end. Please, please let's go to Amethi!"

With a small sigh, MJ Akbar ordered his men to buy tickets to head out there. Rajiv Gandhi had a plan. Even if it was not the right one politically, Akbar knew the consequences of saying no to a Gandhi.


(Rajiv Gandhi, the man with both a premonition and a plan.)




(MJ Akbar, pictured in his later years. He was one of the most
influential figures in modern Indian political history.)


Notes:

1) Rajya Sabha is India's upper house.
2) Vijitha Rohala was a Sri Lankan sailor who due to political motivations attacked
Rajiv Gandhi. Whether he tried to murder Rajiv Gandhi is up to debate.
3) Amethi was Rajiv Gandhi's seat.
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