Vice President Ansari remembers Narasimha Rao as initiator of change in basic economic policies

Recalling the achievements of former prime minister P.V. Narasimha Rao, Vice-President M. Hamid Ansari on Monday said the nation and the world acknowledges Narasimha Rao's role as the initiator for change in basic economic policies.

Addressing the gathering after releasing the book 'Half-Lion' authored by Vinay Sitapati, here today, the Vice-President said 'diligently researched' book is a useful contribution to our knowledge of that period.

Congratulating the author, the Vice President said that Sitapati had the advantage of having access to the personal papers of Narasimha Rao including information or assessments on situations and personalities given to him by the Intelligence Bureau.

"By these counts, Vinay Sitapati appears to have passed the test. Rating must necessarily rest with individual readers; I personally found the book very interesting. It is diligently researched; the end notes shed light on the sources and their orientation. Sitapati had the advantage of having access to the personal papers of Narasimha Rao ji; these included the information or assessments on situations and personalities given to him by the Intelligence Bureau. The precedent of Crossman Dairies notwithstanding, some may enquire if the Oath of Secrecy and the Official Secrets Act extends to the grave and beyond," he said.

"25 years back this week, P.V. Narasimha Rao was sworn in as Prime Minister and informed commentators have recalled his achievements. The country, and the world, acknowledges Narasimha Rao's role as the initiator for change in basic economic policies," he added.

The Vice President said that two sections of the book would invite commentary - these relate to the management of Parliament and to the demolition of Babri Masjid.

"The crisis of 1991 was the catalyst; to him goes the credit for grasping the opportunity, for making commendable judgements on selection of personnel, and for manoeuvring the changes very deftly through the shoals and rapids of a divided polity; the budget of July 1991 and its aftermath was a good example. All that followed is meticulously traced in the book and in no need of commentary," he said.

"On the demolition of Babri Masjid, the author's assessment is candid and noteworthy: 'There is no question that Rao made the wrong decision,' adding that he should have acted between November 1 and 24 and that his faith in sundry interlocutors - whose names are given in chapter 12 - was misplaced: 'Rao wanted to protect the mosque and protect Hindu sentiments and protect himself. He ended up with the mosque destroyed, Hindus un-attracted to the Congress, and his own reputation in tatters," he added.