Rajiv Gandhi would've pursued same reforms as Rao: Chidambaram

Had Rajiv Gandhi not been assassinated in 1991, he would have pursued more or less the same set of economic reforms as was carried out by late Prime Minister P V Narsimha Rao, as there was an urge for change, former Finance Minister P Chidambaram said today.
"I am absolutely convinced that if Mr Rajiv Gandhi has not been assassinated, Mr Gandhi would have done more or less same thing with more or less with same team...There was clear urge for change," he said.
He was speaking at a book launch of Sanjaya Baru's '1991 How P V Narsimha Rao Made History'.

Chidambaram, who was Commerce Minister at that time, said although Narsimha Rao is regarded as the hero of the 1991 reform, he failed the Congress party.
"Hero of 1991 economic reform was Narsimha Rao, but in 1992, he failed the Congress Party. If you will write a book about Narsimha Rao performance in 1992, that book will be very very different book...That's is tragedy of Narsimha Rao," Chidambaram said.
Narsimha Rao has made some "terrible mistakes", he said, indirectly hinting at the Babri Masjid demolition in 1992 which the then government failed to prevent.

He said despite economic liberalisation and reforms

'India@70' is deeply suspicious of wealth and wealth creators.
"I don't defend the growing inequality, but I salute those who create wealth. The ones who create jobs, service. They are innovators. We should celebrate those who create wealth of the country," he said.
Chidambaram said 'India@70' needs its institutions to be strengthened, repaired and given new energy.
"We have replaced the Planning Commission (with Niti Aayog), but what do we have in its place? A more anemic institute. We have abolished the Economic Advisors to the Prime Minister. What do we in place? Nothing (but) vacuum," Chidambaram said.