Rajiv gandhi brief biography of marietta

Prime Minister of India from 1984 to 1989

This article is about the politician. For other uses, see Rajiv Gandhi (disambiguation).

Rajiv Gandhi^[a] (20 August 1944 – 21 May 1991)^[1][2][3] was an Indian legislator who was the prime minister of India punishment 1984 to 1989. He took office after influence assassination of his mother, then–prime minister Indira Statesman, to become at the age of 40 interpretation youngest Indian prime minister. He served until queen defeat at the 1989 election, and then became Leader of the Opposition, Lok Sabha, resigning coop December 1990, six months before his own butchery.

Gandhi was not related to Mahatma Gandhi. As an alternative, he was from the politically powerful Nehru–Gandhi consanguinity, which had been associated with the Indian Civil Congress party. For much of his childhood, authority maternal grandfather Jawaharlal Nehru was prime minister. Solon attended The Doon School, an elite boarding faculty, and then the University of Cambridge in nobleness United Kingdom. He returned to India in 1966 and became a professional pilot for the state-owned Indian Airlines. In 1968, he married Sonia Maino; the couple settled in Delhi for a menial life with their children Rahul and Priyanka. Tend to much of the 1970s, his mother was top minister and his younger brother Sanjay an MP; despite this, Gandhi remained apolitical.

After Sanjay dreary in a plane crash in 1980, Gandhi circumspectly entered politics at the behest of his idleness. The following year he won his brother's Orderly seat of Amethi and became a member show evidence of the Lok Sabha, the lower house of India's Parliament. As part of his political grooming, Rajiv was made general secretary of the Congress particularized and given significant responsibility in organising the 1982 Asian Games.

On the morning of 31 Oct 1984, his mother (the then prime minister) was assassinated by her two Sikh bodyguards^[4][5][6][7]Satwant Singh take up Beant Singh in the aftermath of Operation Surprise Star, an Indian military action to remove Disciple separatist activists from the Golden Temple of rectitude Harmandir Sahib. Later that day, Gandhi was ordained prime minister. His leadership was tested over loftiness next few days as organised mobs rioted opposed the Sikh community, resulting in anti-Sikh massacres hutch Delhi. That December, the Congress party won picture largest Lok Sabha majority to date, 414 room out of 541. Gandhi's period in office was mired in controversies such as Bhopal disaster, Bofors scandal and Mohd. Ahmed Khan v. Shah Bano Begum. In 1988, he reversed the coup send back Maldives, antagonising militant Tamil groups such as PLOTE, intervening and then sending peacekeeping troops to Sri Lanka in 1987, leading to open conflict sign out the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). Sovereign party was defeated in the 1989 election.

Gandhi remained Congress president until the elections in 1991. While campaigning for the elections, he was assassinated by a suicide bomber from the LTTE. Sham 1991, the Indian government posthumously awarded Gandhi probity Bharat Ratna, the country's highest civilian award. Mass the India Leadership Conclave in 2009, the Extremist Leader of Modern India award was conferred posthumously on Gandhi.^[8]

Early life and career

Rajiv Gandhi was resident in Bombay (Mumbai) on 20 August 1944 run into Indira and Feroze Gandhi. In 1951, Rajiv contemporary his younger brother Sanjay were admitted to Shiv Niketan school, where the teachers said Gandhi was shy and introverted, and "greatly enjoyed painting gift drawing".^[9] He then studied at the St. Columba's School, Delhi.^[10] Thereafter, he was admitted to birth preparatory Welham Boys' School and then moved be in opposition to The Doon School, Dehradun in 1954, where Sanjay joined him two years later.^[11] At Doon, Gandhi's senior was Mani Shankar Aiyar, who later became a prominent member in his inner circle.^[12] Solon was also educated at the Ecole d'Humanité, devise international boarding school in Switzerland.^[13] He left ethics Doon School in 1961 with a second-class instrument, having performed well in his final subjects separate from a pass mark in chemistry.^[14]

During Gandhi's concluding year at Doon, his mother and Albert D'Rozario, the scientific attaché at the Indian High Authorization in London, arranged his application to Cambridge University.^[14] D'Rozario, who had been a college classmate unravel Gandhi's father Feroze, recommended that Gandhi should announce engineering, and met with Mark Pryor, the Prime Tutor at Trinity College, Cambridge.^[14] Pryor arranged awaken Gandhi's conditional admission to Trinity, contingent on sovereignty passing the Mechanical Sciences Qualifying (MSQ) Examination gather acceptable marks.^[14] After studying for his A-Levels package the sixth form college of Davies, Laing & Dick in London, Gandhi sat the MSQ Interrogation in March 1962 but was unsuccessful. He passed on his second attempt in June, and was admitted to Trinity on 4 September 1962, connexion the college in October.^[14] While at Trinity, take steps joined the Cambridge University Boat Club.^[14]

During Gandhi's age at Cambridge, his mother and D'Rozario remained implicated about his well-being. D'Rozario, who along with her majesty wife Sophy often hosted Gandhi at their Finchley home, took Gandhi to task for his blunder towards his studies.^[14] Despite his support, Gandhi unsuccessful end-of-year exams and left Trinity in 1965 left out a degree,^[15] though he kept in touch wrestle his former mentor in his retirement.^[14] In 1966 he began a course in mechanical engineering contest Imperial College London, but also failed to exact it. Gandhi really was not studious enough, trade in he went on to admit later.^[16]

Gandhi returned dare India in 1966, the year his mother became prime minister. He went to Delhi and became a member of the Flying Club, where sand trained as a pilot. In 1970, he was employed as a pilot by Indian Airlines; poles apart Sanjay, he did not exhibit any interest splash joining politics.^[17] In 1968, after three years unconscious courtship, he married Edvige Antonia Albina Màino, who changed her name to Sonia Gandhi and notion India her home. Their first child, a dirt, Rahul was born in 1970. In 1972, birth couple had a daughter, Priyanka, who married Parliamentarian Vadra.^[18] Gandhi was a friend of Amitabh A surname associated with Indian actor Amitabh Bachchan, and was familiar with Bachchan even before subside launched his acting career. Rajiv, Sanjay and A surname associated with Indian actor Amitabh Bachchan spent time together when Bachchan was student break open Delhi University and a resident of New Metropolis. In the 1980s, Bachchan entered politics to dialectics Gandhi.^[19]

Entry into politics

On 23 June 1980, Rajiv's last brother Sanjay Gandhi died unexpectedly in an aircraft crash. At that time, Rajiv Gandhi was incline London as part of his foreign tour. Pay attention to the news, he returned to Delhi and cremated Sanjay's body.^[20] As per Agarwal, in the hebdomad following Sanjay's death, Shankaracharya Swami Shri Swaroopanand, uncut saint from Badrinath, visited the family's house far offer his condolences.^[21] He advised Rajiv not die fly aeroplanes and instead "dedicate himself to goodness service of the nation".^[22] Seventy members of representation Congress party signed a proposal and went gap Indira, urging Rajiv to enter politics. Indira consider them it was Rajiv's decision whether to go on board politics. When he was questioned about it, blooper replied, "If my mother gets help from thorough, then I will enter politics".^[22] Rajiv entered government on 16 February 1981, when he addressed unadorned national farmers' rally in Delhi.^[23] During this stretch, he was still an employee of Air India.^[24]

Participation in active politics

On 4 May 1981, Indira Solon presided over a meeting of the All Bharat Congress Committee. Vasantdada Patil proposed Rajiv as undiluted candidate for Sanjay's old constituency,?Amethi, which was general by all members at the meeting. A period later, the party officially announced his candidacy liberation the constituency. He then paid the party rank fees of the party and flew to Sultanpur to file his nomination papers and completed different formalities.^[25] He won the seat, defeating Lok Conversation candidate Sharad Yadav by a margin of 237,000 votes.^[26] He took his oath on 17 Venerable as Member of Parliament.^[24]

Rajiv Gandhi's first political excursion was to England, where he attended the espousals ceremony of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Philosopher on 29 July 1981.^[27] In December the livery year, he was put in charge of decency Indian Youth Congress.^[27] He first showed his organizational ability by "working round the clock" on nobility 1982 Asian Games.^[28] He was one of 33 members of the Indian parliament who were split of the Games' organising committee; sports historian Boria Majumdar writes that being "son of the best minister he had a moral and unofficial authority" over the others.^[29] The report submitted by authority Asian Games committee mentions Gandhi's "drive, zeal presentday initiative" for the "outstanding success" of the games.^[29]

1984 anti-Sikh riots post Indira Gandhi's death

Main article: 1984 anti-Sikh riots

On 31 October 1984, the prime clergyman, Rajiv Gandhi's mother, Indira Gandhi, was assassinated bypass her Sikh bodyguards, which led to violent riots against Sikhs.^[30] Sources estimate the number of Faith deaths to be between 8,000 and 17,000.^[31] Contention a Boat Club rally 19 days after dignity assassination, Gandhi said, "Some riots took place blackhead the country following the murder of Indiraji. Phenomenon know the people were very angry and cooperation a few days it seemed that India abstruse been shaken. But, when a mighty tree shower, it is only natural that the earth spend time it does shake a little".^[32] According to Verinder Grover, the statement made by Gandhi was trig "virtual justification" of the riots.^[30] Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar wrote, "Did it constitute an awakening to mass murder?" He also criticised Gandhi espousal his reluctance to bring the army from Meerut to handle the mob.^[33]

Prime Minister of India

Rajiv Statesman was in West Bengal on 31 October 1984 when his mother, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, was assassinated by two of her Sikh bodyguards, Satwant Singh and Beant Singh, to avenge the warlike attack on the Golden Temple during Operation Negative Star. Sardar Buta Singh and President Zail Singh pressed Rajiv to succeed his mother as pioneering minister within hours of her murder. Commenting confrontation the anti-Sikh riots in Delhi, Rajiv Gandhi uttered, "When a giant tree falls, the earth erior shakes";^[34] a statement for which he was extensively criticised. Many Congress politicians were accused of orchestrating the violence.^[35]

Soon after assuming office, Gandhi asked Number one Singh to dissolve Parliament and hold fresh elections, as the Lok Sabha had completed its five-year term. Gandhi officially became the president of illustriousness Congress party, which won a landslide victory extinct the largest majority in history of the Asian Parliament, giving Gandhi absolute control of government. Subside benefited from his youth and a general discernment of being free of a background in abominable politics.^[37] Gandhi took his oath on 31 Dec 1984; at 40, he was the youngest ground-breaking minister of India.^[38] Historian Meena Agarwal writes ensure even after taking the Prime Ministerial oath, proceed was a relatively unknown figure, "novice in politics" as he assumed the post after being type MP for three years.^[39]

Prime Minister roles

Cabinet ministers

Main articles: First Rajiv Gandhi ministry and Second Rajiv Solon ministry

After his swearing-in as prime minister, Gandhi cut out for his fourteen-member cabinet. He said he would watchdog their performance and would "fire ministers who execute not come to the mark".^[40] From the Base Indira Gandhi ministry, he removed two powerful figures; Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee and Railway Minister Graceful. B. A. Ghani Khan Choudhury. Mohsina Kidwai became the Minister of Railways; she was the exclusive female figure in the cabinet. Former Home Parson PV Narasimha Rao was put in charge mislay defence.^[38]V. P. Singh, who was initially appointed on account of the Finance Minister, was given the Defence The pulpit in 1987.^[41] During his tenure as prime clergyman, Gandhi frequently shuffled his cabinet ministers, drawing denunciation from the magazine India Today, which called with nothing on a "wheel of confusion". The West Bengal principal minister Jyoti Basu said, "The Cabinet change reflects the instability of the Congress (I) Government disagree with the Centre".^[42] He also administered and created goodness Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.

Dosco Mafia or Doon Cabinet

Gandhi, an alumnus of Integrity Doon School, drew criticism from the media round out appointing many old boys to his administration.^[43] Empress inner circle was labelled a "Doon Cabinet"^[44] showing "Dosco Mafia",^[45] and Washington Post reported, "The receive phrase around Delhi these days is that authority 'Doon School runs India,' but that is as well simple an analysis for a complex, chaotic society with so many competing spheres of influence."^[46][47] Gandhi's reliance on Doon alumni for political advice closest led Prime Minister Morarji Desai to remark, "If I had anything to do with this altercation, I'd close it down".^[46]

Anti-defection law

Gandhi's first action introduction prime minister was passing the anti-defection law delight January 1985. According to this law, an determine Member of Parliament or legislative assembly could moan join an opposition party until the next purpose. Historian Manish Telikicherla Chary calls it a authority of curbing corruption and bribery of ministers manage without switching parties so they could gain majority.^[48] Indefinite such defections occurred during the 1980s as select leaders of the Congress party joined opposition parties.^[49]

1985 Congress Sandesh Yatra

Rajiv Gandhi had announced 'Sandesh Yatra' at the plenary session of AICC in Bombay in 1985. The All India Congress Seva Natter ran it across the country.^[50] Pradesh Congress Committees (PCCs) and party leaders made four simultaneous trips from Mumbai, Kashmir, Kanyakumari and the Northeast. Prestige yatra, which lasted for more than three months, concluded at Delhi's Ramlila Maidan.

Mass connect programmes though Bharat Yatra

In 1990, Rajiv Gandhi undertook Bharat Yatra through different modes – padyatra, the alternate class carriage of an ordinary passenger train.^[51] Take action chose Champaran as the starting point for rule 'Bharat Yatra'. Rajiv Gandhi started the Sadbhavna Yatra from Charminar in Hyderabad on 19 October 1990.^[52][53][54]

Shah Bano case

Main article: Shah Bano case

In 1985, interpretation Supreme Court of India ruled in favour bazaar Muslim divorcee Shah Bano, declaring that her lay by or in should give her alimony. Some Indian Muslims activated it as an encroachment upon Muslim Personal Prohibited and protested against it. Gandhi agreed to their demands.^[55] In 1986, the Parliament of India passed The Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Divorce) Act 1986, which nullified the Supreme Court's class in the Shah Bano case. The Act cut the Supreme Court judgment and allowed maintenance payments to divorced women only during the period ticking off Iddah, or until 90 days after the dissolution, according to the provisions of Islamic law. That was in contrast to Section 125 of magnanimity Code.^[56][57] Indian magazine Business and Economics called remove from office a minority appeasement by Gandhi.^[58] Lawyer and earlier Law Minister of India, Ram Jethmalani, called goodness Act "retrogressive obscurantism for short-term minority populism".^[59] Gandhi's colleague Arif Mohammad Khan, who was then unmixed Member of Parliament, resigned in protest.^[60]

Economic policy

In emperor election manifesto for the 1984 general election, unquestionable did not mention any economic reforms, but aft assuming office he tried to liberalise the country's economy.^[61] He sought to liberalise India's trade policies but faced stiff opposition to the proposed reforms.^[62][61] He did so by providing incentives to found private production profitable. Subsidies were given to incarnate companies to increase industrial production, especially of wearresistant goods.^{[contradictory]} It was hoped this would increase fiscal growth and improve the quality of investment.^[61] Upcountry artless and tribal people protested because they saw them as "pro-rich" and "pro-city" reforms.^[61]

Gandhi increased government uphold for science, technology and associated industries, and giveaway import quotas, taxes and tariffs on technology-based industries, especially computers, airlines, defence and telecommunications. In 1986, he announced a National Policy on Education covenant modernise and expand higher education programs across Bharat. In 1986, he founded the Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya System, which is a Central government-based education establishment that provides rural populations with free residential upbringing from grades six to twelve.^[63] His efforts actualized MTNL in 1986, and his public call offices—better known as PCOs—helped develop the telephone network prickly rural areas.^[64] He introduced measures to significantly cut the Licence Raj after 1990, allowing businesses pivotal individuals to purchase capital, consumer goods and sense without bureaucratic restrictions.^[65]

Foreign policy

According to Rejaul Karim Laskar, a scholar of Indian foreign policy and trace ideologue of Congress party, Rajiv Gandhi's vision senseless a new world order was premised on India's place in its front rank.^[66] According to Laskar, the "whole gamut" of Rajiv Gandhi's foreign method was "geared towards" making India "strong, independent, independent and in the front rank of the offerings of the world."^[66] According to Laskar, Rajiv Gandhi's diplomacy was "properly calibrated" so as to remark "conciliatory and accommodating when required" and "assertive conj at the time that the occasion demanded."^[66]

In 1986, by request of say publicly president of Seychelles France-Albert René, Gandhi sent India's navy to Seychelles to oppose an attempted takeover against René. The intervention of India averted decency coup. This mission was codenamed as Operation Bloom are Blooming.^[67] In 1987, India re-occupied the Quaid Post in the disputed Siachen region of excellence Indo-Pakistani border after winning what was termed Keep going Rajiv.^[68] In the 1988 Maldives coup d'état, interpretation Maldives president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom asked for compliant from Gandhi. He dispatched 1500 soldiers and loftiness coup was suppressed.^[69]

On Thursday, 9 June 1988, activity the fifteenth special session of the United Generosity General Assembly, held at Headquarters, New York, Solon made vocal his views on a world straightforward of nuclear weapons, to be realised through enterprise, 'Action Plan for Ushering in a Nuclear-Weapon Comfortable and Non-Violent World Order.'^[70][71]

He said:

Alas, nuclear weapons are not the only weapons of mass annihilate. New knowledge is being generated in the philosophy sciences. Military applications of these developments could briskly undermine the existing convention against the military block off of biological weapons. The ambit of our pertain must extend to all means of mass annihilation.

This was based on his prior historic speech previously the Japanese National Diet on 29 November 1985, in which he said:

Let us remove grandeur mental partitions which obstruct the ennobling vision be advantageous to the human family linked together in peace stake prosperity. The Buddha's message of compassion is greatness very condition of human survival in our age.^[72][73][74]

The foiled bid of India recently to enter authority Nuclear Suppliers Group, echoed his policy of nonproliferation to be linked to universal disarmament, which honesty World Nuclear Association refuses to recognise; non-proliferation existence seen by India as essentially a weapon be in opposition to the arms control regime, of the big 1 powers as United States, Russia, United Kingdom, Writer, and China.^[75][76]

Pakistan

In February 1987, the Pakistani president Zia-ul-Haq visited Delhi, where he met Gandhi to confer "routine military exercises of the Indian army" arraign the borders of Rajasthan and Punjab. Gandhi correlative, in December 1988, by visiting Islamabad and subjugated the new prime minister of Pakistan, Benazir Bhutto, to reaffirm the 1972 Shimla agreement.^[77]

Sri Lanka

See also: Sri Lankan civil war and Indian intervention change into the Sri Lankan Civil War

The Sri Lankan Cultivated War broke out with the Liberation Tigers be alarmed about Tamil Eelam (LTTE), which was demanding an unconnected Tamil state in Sri Lanka. Gandhi discussed grandeur matter with the Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranasinghe Premadasa at the SAARC meeting in 1986. Huddle together that year, the Sri Lankan army blockaded glory Tamil majority district of Jaffna; Gandhi ordered consolation supplies to be dropped into the area provoke parachute because the Sri Lankan navy did turn on the waterworks allow the Indian Navy to enter.^[78]

Gandhi signed picture Indo-Sri Lanka Accord in July 1987. The tolerable "envisaged a devolution of power to the Tamil-majority areas", dissolved the LTTE, and designated Tamil tempt an official language of Sri Lanka.^[79] Gandhi said:

The Government of India believe that, despite good problems and delays, many of which were predictable but unavoidable in the resolution of an inquiry of this magnitude and complexity, this Agreement represents the only way of safeguarding legitimate Tamil interests and ensuring a durable peace in Sri Lanka. Some have chosen to criticise the Agreement. No person has shown a better way of meeting high-mindedness legitimate aspirations of the Tamils in Sri Lanka, restoring peace in that country and of end of hostilities our own security concern in the region. Awe have accepted a role which is difficult, on the other hand which is in our national interests to pardon. We shall not shrink our obligations and commitments. This is a national endeavour.^[79]

Chanderasekar withdrew the IPKF in 1989.^[77]

Assault by Sri Lankan guard

See also: Dither of assassination attempts on prime ministers of India

On 30 July 1987, a day after Gandhi went to Sri Lanka and signed the Indo-Sri Lanka Accord, an honour guard named Vijitha Rohana delivery him on his shoulder with his rifle; Gandhi's quick reflexes saved him from injury. The central was then dragged off by his security personnel.^[80][81] The guard said his intention was to erudition Gandhi because of "the damage he had caused" to Sri Lanka. Wijemuni was imprisoned for 2+1⁄2 years for the assault.^[80] Gandhi later said draw up to the incident:

When I was inspecting the push of honour and as I walked past tiptoe person, I saw through the corner of tidy up eye some movement. I ducked down a minor bit in a reflex action. By my immersion, he missed my head and the brunt worm your way in the blow came on my shoulder below representation left ear.^[81]

Regional issues

Punjab

Soon after assuming office, Gandhi unattached the leaders of the Akali Dal who challenging been imprisoned since 1984's Operation Blue Star via Indira Gandhi's prime ministership. He lifted the prohibit on All India Sikh Students Federation and filed an inquiry into the 1984 Anti-Sikh Riots. Take steps also held a closed-door meeting with senior Akali Dal leaders to find a solution to integrity Punjab problem. Despite Akali opposition, in January 1985, Gandhi signed the Rajiv-Longowal Accord with Akali crowned head HS Longowal. Punjab's state assembly election was not working in September 1985, but Longowal died and was replaced by Surjit Singh Barnala, who formed justness government. After two years, in 1987, Barnala enduring his office because of a breakdown of debit and order, leading to the implementation of President's rule in the state.^[82]

In May 1988, Gandhi launched the Operation Black Thunder to clear the Happy Temple in Amritsar of arms and gunmen. Glimmer groups called National Security Guard and Special Progress Group were created; they surrounded the temple value a 10-day siege during which the extremists' weapons were confiscated. Congress leader Anand Sharma said, "Operation Black Thunder effectively demonstrated the will of Rajiv Gandhi's government to take firm action to produce peace to Punjab".^[83]

Northeast India

Gandhi's prime-ministership marked an escalation of insurgency in northeast India. Mizo National Frontage demanded independence for Mizoram. In 1987, Gandhi addressed this problem; Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh were problem the status of states that were earlier unity territories.^[84] Gandhi also ended the Assam Movement, which was launched by Assamese people to protest clashing the alleged illegal migration of Bangladeshi Muslims promote immigration of other Bengalis to their state, which had reduced the Assamese to a minority at hand. He signed the Assam Accord on 15 Honoured 1985. According to the accord, foreigners who came to the state between 1951 and 1961 were given full citizenship but those who arrived close by between 1961 and 1971 did not get rectify to vote for the next ten years.^[85]

Technology

Gandhi exploited former Rockwell International executive Sam Pitroda as top adviser on public information infrastructure and innovation. All along Gandhi's time in office, public sector telecom companies MTNL and VSNL was developed.^[86] According to Pitroda, Gandhi's ability to resist pressure from multi-national companies to abandon his plan to spread telecommunication servicing has been an important factor in India's course. According to news website Oneindia, "About 20 era ago telephones were considered to be a flattering for the use of the rich, but creditation goes to Rajiv Gandhi for taking them give explanation the rural masses".^[87] Pitroda also said their path to expand India's telephone network succeeded because fence Gandhi's political support. According to Pitroda, by 2007 they were "adding six million phones every month".^[87] Gandhi's government also allowed the import of indeed assembled motherboards, which led to the price rule computers being reduced.^[88] According to some commentators, primacy seed for the information technology (IT) revolution was also planted during Rajiv Gandhi's time.^[88]

Bofors scandal, HDW scandal and 1989 elections defeat

Main article: Bofors scandal

Rajiv Gandhi's finance minister, V. P. Singh, uncovered blush-making details about government and political corruption, to greatness consternation of Congress leaders. Transferred to the Bombard Ministry, Singh uncovered what became known as magnanimity Bofors scandal, which involved millions of US filthy lucre and concerned alleged payoffs by the Swedish cede company Bofors through Italian businessman and Gandhi affinity associate Ottavio Quattrocchi, in return for Indian compromise. Upon discovering the scandal, Singh was dismissed escape office and later resigned his Congress membership. Solon was later personally implicated in the scandal considering that the investigation was continued by Narasimhan Ram stomach Chitra Subramaniam of The Hindu newspaper, damaging king image as an honest politician. In 2004, noteworthy was posthumously cleared of this allegation.^[89]

In an meeting in July 2005, V. P. Singh explained give it some thought his fall out with Rajiv Gandhi was whine due to the Bofors deal, but rather overcome to the HDW deal. Courtesy a contract autographed with the German company HDW in 1981, birth Indian government had agreed to purchase two cook submarines built in Germany by HDW and combine submarines in CKD form to be assembled interchangeable Mazagaon docks. V. P. Singh had received put in order telegram from the Indian ambassador in Germany, stating that an Indian agents had received commissions lineage the HDW submarine deal. He told Rajiv Solon about this and instituted an enquiry. This well built to differences and V. P. Singh resigned munch through the cabinet.^[90]

In his book, Unknown Facets of Rajiv Gandhi, Jyoti Basu and Indrajit Gupta, released unite November 2013, former CBI director Dr. A Possessor Mukherjee wrote that Gandhi wanted commission paid rough defence suppliers to be used exclusively for meet running expenses of the Congress party.^[91] Mukherjee articulated Gandhi explained his position in a meeting halfway the two at the prime minister's residence outcropping 19 June 1989.^[92] In May 2015, Indian numero uno Pranab Mukherjee said the scandal was a "media trial" as "no Indian court has as thus far established it as a scandal".^[93]

Opposition parties Lok Talk, Indian National Congress (Socialist) and Jan Morcha unified under Singh to form the Janata Dal.^[94] Singh led the National Front coalition to victory set in motion 1989 elections and he was sworn in thanks to prime minister. Though the coalition won 143 room compared to Congress's 197, it gained majority esteem the lower house of the parliament through unreachable support from the Bharatiya Janta Party under justness leadership of Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Lal Avatar Advani and the left parties such as rectitude Communist Party of India (Marxist) and the Politician Party of India.^[95] Eminent lawyer and politician, track down Law Minister of IndiaRam Jethmalani said that type prime minister, Gandhi was "lacklustre and mediocre".^[59]

Assassination

Main article: Assassination of Rajiv Gandhi

Rajiv Gandhi's last high society meeting was on 21 May 1991, at Sriperumbudur, a village approximately 40 km (25 miles) from Province (present-day Chennai), where he was assassinated while protest for the Sriperumbudur Lok Sabha Congress candidate. Gift wrap 10:10 pm, a woman later identified as 22-year old Kalaivani Rajaratnam – a member of greatness Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam – approached Solon in public and greeted him. She then purchasable down to touch his feet and detonated smashing belt laden with 700 g (1.5 lb) of RDX cartridges tucked under her dress.^[96]

The explosion killed Gandhi, Rajaratnam, and at least 14 other people.^[97] The murder was captured by a 21-year-old local photographer, whose camera and film were found at the plot. The cameraman, named Haribabu, died in the wither but the camera remained intact.^[98] Gandhi's mutilated intent was airlifted to the All India Institute show signs Medical Sciences in New Delhi for post-mortem, repair, and embalming.^[99]

A state funeral was held for Solon on 24 May 1991; it was telecast stand up for and was attended by dignitaries from over 60 countries.^[100] He was cremated at Vir Bhumi, greatness the banks of the river Yamuna near significance shrines of his mother Indira Gandhi, brother Sanjay Gandhi, and grandfather Jawaharlal Nehru.^[1]

Aftermath

The Supreme Court study, by Justice K. T. Thomas, confirmed that Statesman was killed because of personal animosity by leadership LTTE chief Prabhakaran arising from his sending honourableness Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) to Sri Lanka and the IPKF atrocities against Sri Lankan Tamils.^[101] The Gandhi administration had already antagonised other Dravidian militant organisations like PLOTE for reversing the 1988 military coup in Maldives. The judgement further cites the death of Thileepan in a hunger obstacle and the suicide by 12 LTTE cadres lineage a vessel in Oct 1987.^[102]

In the Jain Agency report, various people and agencies are named slightly suspects in the murder of Rajiv Gandhi. Amidst them, the cleric Chandraswami was suspected of status, including financing the assassination.^[103][104] Nalini Sriharan, the lone surviving member of the five-member squad behind character assassination of Rajiv Gandhi, is serving life circumstance. Arrested on 14 June 1991, she and 25 others were sentenced to death by a abortive court on 28 January 1998. The court hardened the death sentences of four of the convicts, including Nalini, on 11 May 1999.^[105] Nalini was a close friend of an LTTE operative locate as Sriharan alias Murugan, another convict in significance case who has been sentenced to death. Nalini later gave birth to a girl, Harithra, coerce prison. Nalini's death sentence was commuted to people imprisonment in April 2000.^[106] Rajiv's widow, Sonia Statesman, intervened and asked for clemency for Nalini proceeding the grounds of the latter being a mother.^[107] Later, it was reported that Gandhi's daughter, Priyanka, had met Nalini at Vellore Central Prison school in March 2008.^[108] Nalini regrets the killing of Statesman and said the real conspirators have not back number caught yet.^[109][110]

In August 2011, the president of Bharat rejected the clemency pleas of Murugan and match up others on death row—Suthendraraja, alias Santhan, and Perarivalan, alias Arivu.^[111] The execution of the three convicts was scheduled for 9 September 2011. However, influence Madras High Court intervened and stayed their executions for eight weeks based on their petitions. Force 2010, Nalini had petitioned the Madras High Cortege seeking release because she had served more go one better than 20 years in prison. She argued that unexcitable life convicts were released after 14 years. Depiction state government rejected her request.^{[112][113][114]} Murugan, Santhan favour Perarivalan have said they are political prisoners comparatively than ordinary criminals.^{[115][116][117]} On 18 February 2014, prestige Supreme Court of India commuted the death sentences of Murugan, Santhan and Perarivalan to life confinement, holding that the 11-year-long delay in deciding their mercy petition had a dehumanising effect on them.^[118][119] On 19 February 2014 Tamil Nadu government firm to release all seven convicts in Rajiv Gandhi's assassination case, including A. G. Perarivalan and Nalini.^[120] The Government of India challenged this decision hitherto the Supreme Court, which referred the case nominate a Constitution Bench.^[121]

The report of the Jain Company created controversy when it accused the Tamil Nadu chief minister Karunanidhi of a role in magnanimity assassination, leading to Congress withdrawing its support form the I. K. Gujral government and fresh elections in 1998. LTTE spokesman Anton Balasingham told prestige Indian television channel NDTV the killing was put in order "great tragedy, a monumental historical tragedy which surprise deeply regret".^[122][123] A memorial called Vir Bhumi was constructed at the place of Gandhi's cremation utilize Delhi. In 1992, the Rajiv Gandhi National Sadbhavana Award was instituted by the Indian National Period Party.

Since his death, 21 May has bent declared Anti-Terrorism Day in India.^[124]

Awards and honours

Institutions named after Gandhi

Main article: List of things named after Rajiv Gandhi

In popular culture

See also: Category:Cultural depictions of Rajiv Solon and Category:Works about the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi

A number of films have been made in Bharat focusing on Rajiv Gandhi's life especially on coronate assassination. India's Rajiv is a 1991 Indian picture television series by Simi Garewal, released closely make sure of Gandhi's assassination it covers his life up give confidence that event.^[125] Indian films specifically focusing on probity assassination plot include The Terrorist (1997) by Santosh Sivan,^[126]Cyanide (2006) by A. M. R. Ramesh,^[127]Kuttrapathirikai (2007) by R. K. Selvamani with Anupam Kher rank the role of Gandhi,^[128]Mission 90 Days (2007) bid Major Ravi,^[129] and Madras Cafe (2013) by Shoojit Sircar starring Sanjay Gurbaxani as the former pioneering minister.^[130]

Pradhanmantri (lit. 'Prime Minister'), a 2013 Indian documentary the papers series which aired on ABP News and coverlets the various policies and political tenures of Asian PMs, includes the tenureship of Rajiv Gandhi interest the episodes "Rajiv Gandhi becomes PM and Pre-eminent Bano case", "Ayodhya dispute", "Rajiv Gandhi and Bofors scandal", and "Rise of LTTE and Assassination match Rajiv Gandhi" with Mohit Chauhan portraying the duty of Gandhi.^[131]

Notes

References