'Assailants attempt three times to kill Sanjay Gandhi'

New Delhi, April 11: According to WikiLeaks, three attempts were made to kill Sanjay Gandhi, the second son of former late Prime Minister

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The US Embassy cables accessed by WikiLeaks say that there was a "well planned attempt" to assassinate Sanjay during Emergency in India.

The Times of India news report published on Thursday (April 11) stated, "In a September 1976 dispatch, the US embassy reported the then prime minister Indira Gandhi's younger son was targeted by an unknown assailant in a "well planned assassination attempt" which failed. The date suggests the incident occurred during the Emergency."

"Indira Gandhi's son Sanjay was shot three times on August 30 or 31 by an unknown assailant," the cable informs.

Cable is said to have based its data on information provided by Indian intelligence sources.

"According to Indian intelligence, this is the third attempt on the younger Gandhi's life," the cable states.

Another WikiLeaks cable also claims that AK Antony was "one of the only" leaders apart from Priyaranjan Dasmunsi who "flatly criticised" Sanjay Gandhi during 1976 AICC session in Guwahati during Emergency when the latter's political graph was on the rise.

The cables, made public by Wikileaks, also said the party faction led by Antony, the Kerala unit President, refused to support Sanjay and questioned his "rapid ascent to a position of power" asking "what sacrifices he has made for the party or the country".

OneIndia News