The Rajiv Years

Learning Outcomes:

1. Understanding of Rajiv Gandhi’s political rise after Indira Gandhi’s assassination.
2. Examination of Rajiv’s political crises, policy initiatives, and foreign policy.
3. Analysis of key domestic and international events, including Bofors and Kargil.
4. Exploration of India’s economic, social, and defense policies under Rajiv.

Assuming Office

Rajiv Gandhi became Prime Minister of India on the night of 31 October 1985, the same day Indira Gandhi was assassinated. Indira had been on her way to a TV interview when two Sikh guards, in retaliation for her role in storming the Golden Temple in June 1984, fatally shot her. Rajiv was in West Bengal at the time, and senior Congress leaders quickly moved to make him the next prime minister.

1. Rajiv was initially reluctant, and so was his wife, Sonia Gandhi, but he ultimately accepted the role.
2. His journey into politics began in 1980 after his younger brother, Sanjay Gandhi, died in an air crash. Rajiv had served as a pilot before.
3. In 1981, he entered Lok Sabha representing Amethi, the seat vacated after Sanjay’s death.
4. Rajiv’s political career took off quickly, and in 1984, after his mother’s assassination, he became the Congress Party’s key figure, using the sympathy wave to win the 1984 general elections with 415 seats out of 543.

Important Note:

Rajiv Gandhi’s reluctance to assume office foreshadowed the challenges and crises he would face, both personally and politically.

Challenges and Early Crises

After assuming office, Rajiv faced immediate crises, including:

1. The anti-Sikh riots following Indira Gandhi’s assassination, where thousands of Sikhs were killed in Delhi and other cities, with Congress workers accused of involvement.
2. The Bhopal gas leak tragedy in December 1984, killing around 2,000 people, further complicated his early days in office.

The First Round: Policy Initiatives

Despite these initial difficulties, Rajiv’s administration launched several significant policy initiatives:

1. Technology Missions: Six technology missions focused on drinking water, literacy, immunization, milk production, edible oil production, and telecommunication.
2. Sam Pitroda, a telecommunications expert, played a pivotal role in pushing the computerization programme and liberalizing economic controls, which prepared India for the Information Age.

Panchayati Raj and Rural Initiatives

Rajiv initiated steps to strengthen local self-government institutions by bringing panchayat elections into the Constitution. Key programmes included:

1. Jawahar Rozgar Yojana: Aimed at providing employment to at least one member of every rural poor family.
2. New Education Policy: Focused on literacy, with programmes like Operation Blackboard and Navodaya Vidyalayas.
3. National Perspective Plan for Women: Proposed 30% reservation for women in panchayats and highlighted women’s education and health.

Table: Major Policy Initiatives of Rajiv Gandhi

Foreign Policy Initiatives

Rajiv actively pursued foreign affairs, especially in the areas of nuclear disarmament and anti-apartheid activism. His initiatives included:

1. Six-Nation Five-Continent Initiative: Aimed at reducing global nuclear weapons.
2. Strengthening relations with USSR’s Mikhail Gorbachev, resulting in the Delhi Declaration for a non-violent world.
3. Support for Namibian independence and consistent advocacy against apartheid in South Africa.

Bofors and Political Downfall

Rajiv’s government became entangled in defense procurement scandals, notably:

1. Bofors Scandal: Allegations of bribes in defense contracts for howitzer guns tarnished his Mr. Clean image.
2. The scandal severely damaged his political credibility, leading to his downfall in the 1989 elections.

Important Note:

The Bofors scandal, more than any other event, marked the decline of Rajiv Gandhi’s political dominance and remains a symbol of political corruption in India.

Run-up to the New Millennium

As Rajiv sought re-election in 1989, his administration was marked by achievements but also by mounting challenges:

1. V.P. Singh’s anti-corruption crusade isolated Rajiv, contributing to the Congress’s defeat in the elections.
2. Rajiv’s decisions, such as his handling of the Shah Bano case, alienated both Muslim and Hindu communities, weakening his support base.
3. The Mandal Commission report on caste-based reservations sparked intense societal divisions.

Comparison of Key Social Issues under Rajiv Gandhi

Foreign Policy Developments Post-Rajiv

After Rajiv’s assassination in 1991, India’s foreign policy continued evolving under subsequent governments:

1. The rise of economic liberalization and globalization in the early 1990s necessitated re-ordering relationships with Western powers.
2. India–US Relations: Improved during Clinton’s presidency and further strengthened during Manmohan Singh’s tenure with the civil nuclear agreement.
3. Nuclear Policy: India tested nuclear weapons in 1998, making it a nuclear weapons state under Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s BJP-led government.

Table: Evolution of India’s Foreign Policy (1990s–2000s)

Kargil and Its Aftermath

One of the key military events post-Rajiv was the Kargil War in 1999, which significantly altered India–Pakistan relations:

1. Pakistan-backed militants infiltrated the Kargil sector in Kashmir, leading to intense combat.
2. The conflict strengthened the BJP’s position in domestic politics, although it raised concerns about the handling of intelligence and national security.

Important Note:

The Kargil conflict exposed significant gaps in India’s intelligence apparatus, raising questions about internal communication failures within the Indian military and government.

Indo-US Relations and the Nuclear Agreement

Indo-US relations saw significant developments post-Rajiv, particularly during Manmohan Singh’s tenure, with the 2005 Civil Nuclear Agreement:

1. The agreement allowed India access to civilian nuclear technology while maintaining its strategic autonomy.
2. Despite opposition from Left parties, the agreement marked a significant shift in India’s foreign policy, aligning it more closely with Western powers.

Political Scandals and Public Policy

Rajiv Gandhi’s era was also notable for a focus on political transparency and accountability:

1. His government passed the Anti-Defection Act in 1985, aiming to prevent political defections and maintain party discipline.
2. Further measures like Lok Adalats and the Consumer Protection Act aimed at improving governance and the legal framework.

MCQ:

What was the primary purpose of Rajiv Gandhi’s Technology Missions?

• A) Promote military expansion
• B) Enhance urban infrastructure
• C) Solve rural development issues through technology
• D) Reduce unemployment in cities
  Answer: C) Solve rural development issues through technology

Concluding Political Legacy

By the end of Rajiv’s tenure, the political landscape had been significantly altered, marked by new approaches in technology, economic liberalization, and foreign policy. Despite numerous challenges, including the Bofors scandal, his contributions laid important groundwork for future developments in Indian governance and diplomacy.