Present by John Bacon ITN. Michael Brunson reporting on Mrs Gandhi’s funeral. Paul Davis in Birmingham. Jane Corbin reporting on the continued anti-Sikh violence.

“Princess Anne and Mrs. Thatcher also paid their tribute to the woman known as Mother India, who was assassinated three days ago. And over a million people lined the funeral route. The original procession from the lying in state at Teen Murti, her father’s house, past Connaught Place to the cremation site at Shantivani was changed at the last minute. The new route avoided areas of the city worst hit by violence in which up to thousand people have now been killed. Michael Brunson has been following India’s day of sadness and ceremonial.

It began as a quiet, rather sombre occasion. Mrs. Gandhi’s body, the face just visible, placed on a gun carriage and surrounded by flowers for the long journey to the cremation ground. Soon the procession could be seen distantly at first. At this point, the crowd still small by Indian standards with people afraid to venture out onto the streets because of the recent violence. But then the clouds of dust around the procession showed that more and more people had joined the throng. And from the top of India Gate these pictures of the gun carriage passing by with ordinary people throwing bunches of flowers towards the body.

At the place of cremation, a reminder as the official guests arrived of Mrs. Gandhi’s status as a world leader with the Americans and Italians meeting with the Russians there and with Mrs. Thatcher and Princess Anne present for Britain. Then the arrival of the body being carried by the family now up onto the pyre itself. The time for the close relatives to attend to the details of the Hindu ritual. Everything supervised by the son of the family and the new Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. Before the actual cremation, a few quiet moments. And then the ceremony is beginning with Rajiv Gandhi carrying the flame several times around the body, with sandalwood logs placed beside and eventually across it. And with oil, camphor, spices and liquified butter added. All this part of the Hindu belief, harsh perhaps to westernised, that fire is an essential element within the body which in death releases the soul towards a new life. Throughout this difficult day, Rajiv Gandhi remained a calm, almost impassive figure. His wife and young family close to him throughout. And with the thousands who crowded every vantage point near the pyre, joining the million or more on the streets of Delhi and other millions around the world in a solemn farewell to one of the world’s foremost leaders.

The Indian police fear more violence tonight between Sikhs and Hindus and the government has again imposed a curfew in New Delhi, which had been lifted for the funeral. So far, in addition to the thousand who have died in clashes another 2000 are in hospital.

A Sikh temple burns on the eastern outskirts of Delhi. Cycle rickshaws have been destroyed. The whole community has been devastated by intercommunal hatred. Hindus, enraged by the murder of Mrs. Gandhi, have ignored the pleas of her son, the new Prime Minister to stop the violence. Sikhs have retaliated. Everyone has fled from the mobs. Bodies, Sikh and Hindu lie abandoned on the streets.

Sikh families have taken refuge in a nearby wood. Their homes and all their possessions have been destroyed. There are many women and children. They’re afraid of a Hindu crowd gathered just a short distance away.

Jane Corbin, ITN

The violence of the past two days reached its height in a massacre in the suburb of Trilokpuri.

According to eyewitnesses, the narrow lanes were blocked by a mob of youths. All the men in the houses were dragged out, knifed and set on fire. Those who resisted were hacked to pieces.

Jane Corbin, ITN

Jane Corbin, ITN, Delhi.

In Birmingham, the other main centre of the Indian community in Britain, television sets were installed in Hindu temples, so mourners could watch pictures of Mrs Gandhi’s funeral. This evening, Hindus begin a 24 hours vigil, honouring their murdered leader and also praying for her son and successor. In marked contrast, the Sikh temple a quarter of a mile away was going about its normal business. Guests gathering for a wedding celebration. Just another Saturday. With no reference to Mrs Gandhi’s assassination. And no attempt to mourn her, the main concern was for relatives in India, as the death toll there grows.

Feelings are running very high and the Sikhs, being in a minority, are being and are continuing to be oppressed and are being subjected to mass killing.

Sikh leaders here are urging their young men to stay calm and shun any attempt by extremists to bring the religious violence to Britain. Paul Davis, ITN, Birmingham.

After Mrs Gandhi’s funeral, Mrs Thatcher condemned the Sikh separatist movement in India and she said the British government had considered prosecuting its leader in this country for incitement.

Yes, we saw a tiny, irresponsible minority behaving outrageously, and the people of Britain were angry and dismayed and disgusted, and so were the overwhelming majority of Sikhs.”

The day of Mrs Gandhi’s funeral, 3 November 1984.