Andhra Pradesh - Tirupati   

Remembering historic AICC session

By Our Special Correspondent

A file photo of the former Prime Minister, P.V. Narasimha Rao, coming out of the Tirumala temple after darshan in June 2002.

TIRUPATI, DEC 23. Tirupati on Thursday remembered the hype that accompanied the AICC Plenary which P.V. Narasimha Rao chaired at Tirupati as AICC president in April 1992 hardly a few months after he took the reins of the Government and the party following Rajiv Gandhi's assassination.

It was during the historic three-day Tirupati session that the AICC, at the instance of Narasimha Rao, held elections to the Congress Working Committee (CWC) for the first time replacing the nomination system that had been in vogue. The session assumed significance on two counts -- it was being held at a time when the country was through a paradigm shift in its economic and industrial policies and, secondly, it was being chaired by a leader who was outside the Gandhi-Nehru clan.

Simple analysis

Said to be author of economic liberalisation, Narasimha Rao, in his inspiring address wrapping up the session, put up a strong defence of his new economic and industrial policies in simple and lay terms. He compared the Indian economy to a person who was struggling with an undersized blanket which, while covering the face left the feet exposed and vice versa when pulled down. He said it was to meet the `shortfall' that we were trying to bring in private capital. It was as simple as that. "I do not see anything wrong in that," he defended the policy in simple terms.

An ardent devotee of Lord Venkateswara, he used to offer prayers in the hill temple frequently. His last visit was in the middle of this year when he had to be physically lifted out of the aircraft by securitymen because of frail health.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Andhra Pradesh

News: Front Page | National | Tamil Nadu | Andhra Pradesh | Karnataka | Kerala | New Delhi | Other States | International | Opinion | Business | Sport | Miscellaneous | Engagements |
Advts: Classifieds | Employment | Obituary | Updates: Breaking News |

Stories in this Section

Remembering historic AICC session
TANA felicitates folk artistes

Copyright © 2004, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu