Major events during the tenure of Rajiv Gandhi

Published on 30 Sep 2025

• 1984 Anti-Sikh Riots: One of the most tragic events during Rajiv Gandhi's tenure was the anti-Sikh riots that followed the assassination of Indira Gandhi. Thousands of Sikhs were killed in the violence, primarily in Delhi, and it remains a dark chapter in India's history.

• Assam Accord (1985): The accord was signed to address the issue of illegal immigration in Assam, particularly from Bangladesh. It aimed to provide a path to citizenship for those who had come to Assam before a specified date.

• Bhopal Gas Tragedy (1984): In December 1984, the Bhopal gas tragedy at the Union Carbide pesticide plant led to thousands of deaths and this raised concerns about industrial safety and corporate responsibility.

• Shah Bano Case (1985): It was a landmark legal case involving the rights of Muslim women to seek maintenance after divorce. The Rajiv Gandhi government's decision to overturn a Supreme Court judgment in favor of Shah Bano's maintenance created controversy.

• Rajiv-Longowal Accord (1985): To address the Sikh separatist movement in Punjab, Rajiv Gandhi signed an accord with Sikh leader Harchand Singh Longowal in 1985. The accord aimed to bring peace and political solutions to the troubled state.

• Foreign Policy Initiatives: Rajiv Gandhi was involved in efforts to mediate the Sri Lankan civil conflict and signed the Indo-Sri Lanka Accord in 1987, which led to the deployment of Indian Peacekeeping Forces in Sri Lanka.

Tags:
History & Culture

Keywords:
Major events during the tenure of Rajiv Gandhi 1984 Anti-Sikh Riot assam accord Bhopal Gas Tragedy shah Bano case Rajiv-Longowal Accord indo sri Lanka accord

Syllabus:
General Studies Paper 1

Topics:
Post-Independence Consolidation