The book has a full chapter titled “The Beretta Gun that Killed Gandhi”, describing how the weapon was chosen.”After a failed assassination attempt on January 20, 1948, it was decided that Gandhi had to be killed before February 2 as he was going out of Delhi after that day. Godse had a gun but it wasn’t good. He and Narayan Apte, who was in charge of the logistics, had come to Gwalior to seek Parchure’s help in getting a good revolver,” the book says.“On January 28, the Beretta gun was bought in Gwalior from arms dealer Gangadhar Dandwate at Parchure’s house… Godse and Apte took turns to check the pistol, take out its magazine and fill it with seven cartridges. Then they tried the safety catch. It was good to go. Apte paid Dandwate 300 rupees. He would send the balance (Rs 200) later, he said,” the book says.”Then Apte went out for dinner while Godse skipped the meal altogether. At 10.30 p.m., Godse and Apte packed their bedding and bag. Dandwate hailed a tonga passing by; Godse and Apte went off on their way. Two things were certain – there was a gun and a gunner to kill Mahatma Gandhi,” it says.Godse, who was convicted for killing the father of the nation, was hanged to death on November 15, 1949 and his supporters observed the day as ‘sacrifice day.’Launching a ccathing attack on the BJP, Congress spokesperson KK Mishra said, “Defaming Gandhi has become daily affairs for Hindu Mahasabha in Madhya Pradesh but not only police administration but the state Government has turned blind eye to this humiliation.”
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