Pamulaparti Venkata Narasimha Rao was India’s ninth Prime Minister. The man holds a unique position in the nation’s history. Often hailed as the father of India’s economic liberalization, Rao steered the country through one of its most challenging periods in the early 1990s.
Yet, despite his monumental contributions to the nation and the party’s minority appeasement, he was sidelined. Additionally, he was grossly disrespected by Congress even in death. Ironically, the very party that treated him as an outsider now attempts to hail his work. Let’s uncover the man, his policies, and Congress’ attempt to bask in the glow of PV Narasimha Rao’s name.
PV Narasimha Rao – Ignored Architect of Economic Reforms
Whenever the Economic Reforms of Bharat are talked about, the star of the conversation is always Manmohan Sigh! However, many forget that PV Narasimha Rao was the PM of Bharat at the time. When PV Narasimha Rao assumed office in 1991 as the PM of a coalition where INC won 232 seats, India faced a severe economic crisis. As the Home Minister under Rajiv Gandhi’s Sikh terror era, the man was used to facing pressure. In the 90s, Bharat’s foreign reserves had dwindled to just a few weeks’ worth of imports.
Narasimha Rao and the then Finance Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, actively dismantled the License Raj of Bharat – another Congress Legacy!
They introduced sweeping economic reforms that opened India’s economy to the world. The “Economist” Dr. Manmohan Singh found great favor with Sonia Gandhi by consenting to the Silent PM role. However, PV Narasimha Rao never curried favor with “Rajmata” and her family. He was a staunch Indira man and a CON party loyalist to the core! His every decision was taken after a consensus with the party’s other leaders. Thus, Rao never funcitoned on the “High Command” formula of INC.
Here are a few disasterous policies or decisions Narasimha Rao enacted for INC:
PV Narasimha Rao enacted –
1. Places of Worship Act, 1991
2. Waqf Act, 1995Both of these appeasement laws have led to large-scale 'legalised' encroachments of properties belonging to the Hindu community. https://t.co/ddP6qtOhXs
— Dibakar Dutta (দিবাকর দত্ত) (@dibakardutta_) December 23, 2024
- 1991 Places of Worship Act.
- 1995 Waqf Act Ammendment.
- Stalling of Pokhran – II Nuclear Test under US pressure.
- Harshad Mehta Stock Market Scam.
- Bribery of JMM leaders to counter the no-confidence motion in 1993.
Hence, PV Narasimha Rao’s popularity grew within the party while some his policies laid the foundation for India’s transformation into a global economic powerhouse.
However, despite his pro-minority policies, Rao was sidelined for being unable to stop the Babri Masjid demolition. Later, seemingly under the shadow of Sonia Gandhi rule, the Congress rarely acknowledged Rao’s role or contributions. When Bharat was doing well under his economic policies, Rajamata’s CON party institued a study against these policies to high poverty in the nation. Instead, the narrative credited the economic reforms to a collective party effort and Dr. Manmohan Singh, deliberately downplaying Rao’s leadership. This was a calculated move to ensure that the spotlight remained away from this PM.
Narasimha Rao’s Humiliation in Death
He died in 2004, his body was turned away from Congress HQ. He was denied last rites in Delhi as it is an exclusive preserve of Mughal – Nehru dynasties. His body was flown to Hyd where he wasn't even given proper last rites. His body was half burnt, Ahmed Patel saw to it.. 3/4 pic.twitter.com/catwPK1dr1
— Eminent Intellectual (@total_woke_) February 9, 2024
When PV Narasimha Rao was a Congress loyalist but not a Sonia Gandhi trusted man! Thus, the treatment meted out to Rao after his death in 2004 was even more disgraceful. Despite his stature as a former Prime Minister, Rao’s body was not allowed to be placed in the Congress headquarters in New Delhi for public homage.
According to several reports, Sonia Gandhi personally intervened to deny this honor, a courtesy that had been extended to other Congress leaders, including lesser-known figures.
When Rao’s family expressed the desire to cremate him in Delhi, the Congress leadership rebuffed the request. His body was instead flown to Hyderabad for cremation, where reports talk of dogs eating away part o fhis body while the pyre burnt! Many saw this denial of cremation as a deliberate attempt to erase Rao’s legacy from the national consciousness.
Disdain in the Name of Dynastic Politics!
PV Narasimha Rao, The former PM and the architect of India’s economic reforms, was often ignored and repeatedly sidelined by the Congress and the Gandhi family.
Even during #BharatJodoYatra in Hyderabad, Rahul Gandhi skipped visiting PV’s memorial.. this is a clear insult to… pic.twitter.com/S4X7wSfnDu
— SunrAAiser🔥🔥 (@teiangana) December 23, 2024
The reasons for the Congress party’s treatment of Rao might lie in its dynastic politics. Narasimha Rao’s success as a leader who stayed loyal to the party but did not bow to “Rajmata” worked against his interests! To “Rajmata” and “Yuvaraj,” it seemed he operated independently posing a direct threat to the family’s dominance over the party.
Narasimha Rao’s tenure proved to Bharat that the Congress could thrive without Gandhi at the helm, a notion that was anathema to “Rajmata” and her inner circle.
Furthermore, Rao’s ability to walk the centrist line in handling sensitive issues like the Babri Masjid demolition in 1992 added to the friction. While many criticized Rao for his actions during the demolition era, others believed he was made a scapegoat to shield the party from backlash. The blame for it all was conveniently shifted onto PV Narasimha Rao to protect the Gandhi family’s image.
Selective Acknowledgment Even Today?
Delighted to share that our former Prime Minister, Shri PV Narasimha Rao Garu, will be honoured with the Bharat Ratna.
As a distinguished scholar and statesman, Narasimha Rao Garu served India extensively in various capacities. He is equally remembered for the work he did as… pic.twitter.com/lihdk2BzDU
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 9, 2024
BJP owns the ideological legacy of PV Narasimha Rao’s by awarding him the Bharat Ratna! However, it is no secret that Rao was a shrewd politician who weighed his words and actions in the balance of personal benefits! After being discarded by Congress for years, 2020 saw half-hearted attempts to reclaim Rao’s legacy by the INC.
INC leaders make speeches and send out tweets occasionally praising his contributions, but these gestures ring hollow.
Modi effect.
Only after BJP started paying tribute to true Congress icons did Congress look up from Dynasty’s feet and post at least perfunctory stuff about PV Narasimha Rao and others.
History will remember how ‘High Command’ treated PVNR, denied him even a decent cremation. https://t.co/8YIYwWw4Od— Abhijit Majumder (@abhijitmajumder) December 23, 2024
All these gestures seem to be politically motivated, aimed at countering criticism of the party’s historical treatment of him. The sidelining of P.V. Narasimha Rao is not just a story of personal neglect; it’s a reflection of the Congress’s core ideology. The party seems to have its umbilical cords attached to the womb of the “Parivaar”! Rao’s tenure showcased what independent and pragmatic leaders of INC could achieve for India. Thus, the marginalization of PV Narasimha Rao highlights the pitfalls of INC trapped in its dynastic politics.
As the party begs votes in the name of secularism and diversity, its inner politics reeks of nepotism – PV Narasimha Rao was a prime scapegoat for the same!!