Rajiv Gandhi Biography

Rajiv Gandhi becomes Prime Minister following the assassination of Indira Gandhi.

Congress wins a record parliamentary majority in the general election held after Indira Gandhi's assassination.

A toxic gas leak from the Union Carbide pesticide plant in Bhopal kills thousands and causes long-term health damage.

The Fifty-second Amendment introduces anti-defection provisions for members of Parliament and state legislatures.

Rajiv Gandhi and Harchand Singh Longowal sign an accord intended to address major political grievances in Punjab.

Rajiv Gandhi's government signs the Assam Accord with leaders of the Assam agitation.

The government signs the Mizoram Peace Accord, helping end a long-running insurgency in the northeast.

Parliament enacts the Consumer Protection Act, creating new mechanisms for consumer rights and grievance redress.

India deploys the Indian Peace Keeping Force to Sri Lanka under the Indo-Sri Lanka Accord.

Controversy over the Jammu and Kashmir state election contributes to political alienation and later insurgency.

Rajiv Gandhi's government deploys Indian forces to support implementation of the Indo-Sri Lanka Accord.

The central government imposes President's Rule in Punjab amid escalating militancy and political instability.

Rajiv Gandhi's government orders Operation Poomalai, an Indian Air Force airdrop over Jaffna during the Sri Lankan civil conflict.

Rajiv Gandhi and Sri Lankan President J.R. Jayewardene sign the Indo-Sri Lanka Accord in Colombo.

Rajiv Gandhi signs the Indo-Sri Lanka Accord with President J.R. Jayewardene.

Rajiv Gandhi signs the Indo-Sri Lanka Accord, leading to deployment of the Indian Peace Keeping Force in Sri Lanka.

The Sixty-first Amendment lowers the voting age for Lok Sabha and state assembly elections from 21 to 18.

India rapidly deploys military forces to the Maldives to help defeat an attempted coup.

Rajiv Gandhi visits China, helping restore high-level political dialogue after decades of strained relations.

Allegations concerning the Bofors artillery contract damage Rajiv Gandhi's government and become a major political controversy.

Congress loses its parliamentary majority in the 1989 general election and Rajiv Gandhi leaves office.

The ninth general election ends Congress's majority and leads to the formation of a National Front government.

Rajiv Gandhi is assassinated by a suicide bomber during an election campaign at Sriperumbudur in Tamil Nadu.

Death of Rajiv Gandhi