Rajiv Gandhi is one of the most misunderstood prime ministers our country has had and he "suffered grievously" due to media trials which dogged him, a new book states.
"The media trial was perhaps at its worst during his tenure. It is undeniable that he suffered grievously due to it," said the book titled, 'Resurgent India: Glimpses of Rajiv Gandhi's Vision of India'.
The book by former Lok Sabha Secretary-General PDT Achary was released here today by Vice President Hamid Ansari.
Contributions made by Gandhi have never been a subject of serious debate in political or intellectual circles, the book contends.
"Gandhi did not get the benefit of an objective and balanced appraisal of his tenure. It is indisputable that the nation benefited enormously from his contributions in different areas of national life," the book states.
The author mentions that Gandhi always respected honest views, however, unpalatable they might have been.
"He (Gandhi) rewarded a member of the party (PJ Kurien, then a member of Lok Sabha) with the post of Chief Whip after he openly said in the working committee that VP Singh should be expelled from the party, for he felt that it was an honest opinion though it was contrary to his own view on the issue," Achary writes in his book.
