Congress remembers PV Narsimha Rao at the 84th plenary session

NEW DELHI: If the Congress took the generational leap at its plenary session, it also rediscovered its long-forgotten Prime Minister – PV Narsimha Rao. The architect of economic reforms, Rao officially came out of a political exile imposed by his own party 14 years after his death.

Rao, who had remained missing from posters at the Congress’ successive sessions and resolutions for years, was finally duly acknowledged at the 84th plenary session at Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium.

The first instance came on Saturday in the political resolution when Rao was credited with the path-breaking economic reforms of 1991. “The tragic assassination of Sh. Rajiv Gandhi was a big blow to the Congress, and Shri P.V. Narasimha Rao was entrusted with the responsibility. As Prime Minister, he steered the country out of engulfing crisis. The economic reforms of 1991, was truly historic and transformed Indian economy,” the political resolution said. Even foreign policy resolution acknowledged his contribution saying, “Narsimha Rao steadfastly pursued a foreign policy that upheld India’s sovereign interest.”


This is in complete contrast with how Rao’s years as Prime Minister have been mentioned in Congress sessions. He was missing from posters at Congress’ plenary session in December 2010. Rao found a mention in then Congress president Sonia Gandhi’s speech in just one line.

The five volumes of “Congress and the Making of the Indian Nation, the first initiative of the Congress to trace its history since the party’s establishment in 1885, were released at Burari plenary. Rao was the only Congress Prime Minister missing from the cover of the books edited by party veteran Pranab Mukherjee. The 172-page first volume of the book makes a rare reference in the13th chapter devoted to Rao Government crediting him for completing his full term and heralding economic reforms with the help of Manmohan Singh.

Over the years, Congress leaders, barring Singh, have avoided floral tributes organised in Parliament on Rao’s birth anniversaries.

The 84th plenary session, however, marked a course correction.

Congress sources said this was a conscious attempt by party president Rahul Gandhi to portray a party that has grown with the contribution of every leader.

A senior leader, involved in the drafting of political resolution, told ET, “The Congress is being attacked by the BJP government for being dependent on one dynasty. This assault has to be parried and that is why this is being showcased that Congress had a range of leaders and it is not run by only one dynasty.”

This was also reflected in Gandhi’s speech when he said that he wanted to build a Congress similar to the one in 1947 when any leader could have run the party or the government.

Congress leaders from Andhra Pradesh and Telangana looked at this development as an attempt to appeal to the masses in a region it has lost footing in.

Rao, who was chief minister of united Andhra Pradesh, hailed from Telangana. However, central leaders contended that he was more a national leader and politician than a state one.