Rajiv Gandhi was Prime Minister with a difference, says Sam Pitroda

Indians today imagine that it’s Narendra Modi who has put India on the world map with Howdy Modi and Yoga Day. So, inform us about Rajiv Gandhi’s relations with overseas governments…

I will not be certified to reply this however I might give a layman’s view. He believed in non-alignment and holding pleasant relations with all. He strongly believed that we might have pleasant relations within the neighbourhood and SAARC might develop into a typical market. He had glorious relations with each USA and Russia.

To have fun India on the world stage, he took the ‘Competition of India’ to Russia and I used to be given the duty to construct Science and Expertise Exhibition in Moscow, Tashkent, and St Petersburg as a part of the pageant. It was a daring and difficult thought. We needed to fly two Boeing 747 aircrafts filled with {hardware}. Competition Of India was additionally held in US and France – an unprecedented initiative not taken up by anyone else until date.

At this time social media is filled with misinformation about Rajiv Gandhi. What’s the worst criticism of him that you’ve heard?

The most important lie unfold towards him was by VP Singh raking up a non-existent situation of Bofors. Sadly, in India lies promote properly and unfold like wildfire. So, this lie bought properly and he misplaced the election in 1989. He misplaced due to one lie. In case you ask me, this one blatant lie put India on a downward spiral. It additionally killed him, as a result of his safety was not that robust sufficient as soon as he was not the PM.

I ignore the faux propaganda. If in case you have cash, you’ll be able to repay the social media giants to get any info unfold.

It is perhaps troublesome however might you please share your recollections of the dreadful day when he was assassinated?

I used to be carefully concerned with the election marketing campaign. I had spoken to him the day earlier than. On that day I used to be at dwelling in Delhi and had retired early. However earlier than I might fall off to sleep, the telephone rang. It was Mayank Chhaya, the gentleman who wrote my biography. “Rajiv Gandhi has been killed,” he mentioned. It felt like earth had moved from under my ft. The very subsequent name was from Mr T.N. Seshan, the then Election Commissioner. “Sam, you and your spouse ought to come to my residence, it might be safer right here,” he mentioned. “If violence breaks, violence breaks, I might be at dwelling,” I
informed him.

I mainly misplaced my coronary heart (voice chokes). I realised that our dream of taking India to the twenty first century had been derailed. When individuals right this moment criticise the Nehru-Gandhi household, they don’t know what they’re speaking about. Folks don’t perceive the dedication the household has to the concept of India. Rajiv Gandhi was a custodian of that concept rooted in Gandhian values – democracy, freedom, human rights, inclusion, variety, reality, belief, love and concern for individuals on the backside of the financial pyramid.

Rajiv Gandhi gave that means to my life. He gave me a mission to assist join India. It was probably the most satisfying factor in my life. I might have made thousands and thousands and thousands and thousands however not have the satisfaction I’ve right this moment.

India doesn’t realise what she has misplaced.