If a biography is to be written on the former prime minister Chandra Shekhar it would certainly deserve a mention of the octogeneraian socialist’s bitter and unforgettable relationship with Gulbarga.

As a young turk in late 1960s and as prime minister in 1990s he had some unsavoury moments vis-a-vis politically sensitive Gulbarga. While the earlier one had political tinge,  the latter one was accidental.

During the then Samstha Congress government headed by Veerendra Patil in Karnataka after the Congress split in 1969,  the famous socialist trio Chandrashekhar-Krishna Kant-Mohan Dharia were invited to Gulbarga by the District Congress Committee owing allegiance to Indira Gandhi faction of the party. 

The Congress, which was in power in the state in those days,  was apparently inimical to the  activities of its rival faction in the district headed by Dharmarao Afzalpurkar.

Mr Veerendra Patil and Mr Afzalpurkar were staunch rivals. Since Mr Veerendra Patil hailed from Gulbarga, the district administration and police were extra alert to restrain the rival faction. Whether they were acting on orders from above or on their own was not known.

The DCC had arranged a number of functions involving Mr Chandrashekhar and Mr Krishna Kant who had instilled a new vigour in the party headed by Ms Indira Gandhi and had weaned youngsters across the country through their charismatic personality.

Gulbarga was no exception. Leaders like Dharam Singh and Mallikarjun Kharge who were in the formative stage then had taken active part in organising functions at different places in the district.At that time there was labour unrest in the MSK Mills here.

Prohibitory orders were clamped in the city. A meeting was organised at the Town Hall. Half way through the meeting ASP Krishnamurthy (now retired DGP) arrested Mr Chandra Shekhar, Mr Krishna Kant and others for violation of prohibitory orders and produced them before the magistrate.

A case was registered which went on for years. The case was enough to harass political adversaries. It was only for the purpose of attending the court that Mr Chandrashekhar and Mr Krishna Kanth had to come to Gulbarga. Otherwise they would have faced the risk of inviting non-bailable arrest warrant by the court.

“The entire Congress party had stood behind the two socialist leaders. The two were really great leaders. Mr Chandra Shekhar’s oratory was simply marvellous and we were all swayed over by it” recalls former chief minister Mr Dharam Singh, who was then the DCC general secretary.

In his subsequent encounter with Gulbarga something more bitter was waiting for him. This time as a prime minister. He was to address a public meeting at the Police Parade Grounds.  His law minister Subramanian Swamy first took to the mike.

Latter Mr Chandra Shekhar started speaking. After a couple of minutes the mike system failed. There was no alternative arrangement. The PM and the law minister waited for 22 long minutes. The mike could not be restored.

The restive Mr Chandra Shekhar became furious. He came down the stairs and advanced straight into the crowds. He would physically throw away the police officers who came across him to prevent him from going into the crowds.

A senior police officer intervened and stopped the PM introducing himself as “I am Chandu Lal. IG Law and Order’’. “IG!? You don’t deserve to be even a constable. Get away from here’’ roared the prime minister physically pushing him down.

He ordered all police officers to go out of his sight. The anger and rage was apparent as the prime minister of the world’s largest democracy was rendered helpless for 22 minutes. Throwing all security to winds he went in to the crowds, addressed them and went away.

“Mr Veerandra Patil had paid the price for targeting me then and now Bangarappa will have to pay the price” thundered Mr Chandra Shekhar. He was holding the then chief minister Bangarappa responsible for creating a fuss at his public meeting.