Supporting PM Modi’s attack on Rajiv Gandhi, Akali Dal leader Sirsa calls ex-PM a ‘mob lyncher’

Bringing out the truth behind the “Nehru–Gandhi” political dynamics, PM Modi said that Rajiv Gandhi died as India’s most corrupted political leader. Supporting Prime Minister’s comment, Shiromani Akal Dal leader and Rajouri Garden MLA Manjinder S Sirsa said that Rajiv Gandhi wasn’t just corrupt but also a mob lyncher. He accused the former Prime Minister, for the genocide of the Sikh community members after the 1984 riots.

Sirsa said, “Sirf bhrashtachari no. 1 hi nahi… Rajiv Gandhi Mob Lyncher Number 1 bhi” Earlier, PM Modi took a dig at Rajiv Gandhi and attacked Rahul Gandhi saying, “Your father was termed ‘Mr. Clean’ by his courtiers, but his life ended as ‘Bhrashtachari No 1’ (corrupt number 1). By hurling abuses, you cannot turn the 50 long years of Modi’s tapasya (struggle) into dust.” Modi gave a befitting reply to Rahul Gandhi on the latter’s constant accusation of corruption in the Rafale Defence deal.

Rajiv Gandhi, who has been projected as one of the most “clean imaged” political leaders of the Congress fraternity, is far from being what Congress party tries to showcase him as. Winning the elections in the backdrop of his mother’s assassination, Rajiv Gandhi was well known as an inexperienced leader, who came to the rescue of his party at the last moment. These are the two characteristics, which are also reflected by Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi respectively.

Rajiv Gandhi’s government was involved in the Bofors scam which surfaced in 1986. The Swedish radio channel alleged that the Swedish company Bofors AB had bribed the top Indian politicians and defence personnel to secure the records. It was alleged that certain public servants and private persons in India and abroad had entered into a criminal conspiracy between 1982 and 1987 in pursuance of which the offences of bribery, corruption, cheating and forgery were committed. Justice J D Kapoor on February 4, 2004, exonerated late Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi in the case and directed the framing of charge of forgery under section 465 of the Indian Penal Code against Bofors Company.

While the Bofors scam is an example of Rajiv Gandhi’s corrupt regime, the Sikh riots saw the ruthless mob lynching of members of the Sikh community under the Congress government led by Rajiv Gandhi. Rajiv’s party presided over the biggest pogrom in India’s history – 8000 Sikhs were murdered right around the national capital as vengeance for the assassination of his mother – Indira Gandhi. These are just two incidents of the many, where the whitewashed history of the Congress can be challenged.

Rajiv Gandhi, along with scams and mob lynching incidents, was responsible for the loss of the Indian armed forces as well. The wrong decision to send Indian army to Sri Lanka brought great deal of dishonour to the Indian Army, as they were seen as an occupying force in the island country. The election rigging in Kashmir was also credited to Congress to help their ally National Conference come to power. To appease the conservative clergy, Rajiv Gandhi overruled the Supreme Court by bringing out a new legislation that held court’s decision null and void in famous Shah Bano case. 

After all these evidences, leaders like PM Modi and Manjinder S Sirsa are not wrong in claiming that Rajiv Gandhi was indeed the most corrupt leader in the history of the Congress leadership. History holds the proof that the Congress dynastic rule is marred with scandals, controversies and immoral acts against citizens of the country. The grand old party and its leader, as mentioned by PM Modi as well, have always made a weak government, with no vision in their agenda. Congress has proved itself as the biggest failure in Indian politics.