The government of VP Singh had collapsed in November 1990. There were now only two options: either elections were to be called right away, or a government was to be installed through deceit.
In his memoirs "Zindagi Ka Caravan," Chandrashekhar states, "One day suddenly RK Dhawan, close to Rajiv, came to me." declared that he would like to meet Rajiv Gandhi. I went along with him even though I didn't comprehend anything.
Rajiv Gandhi asked if I would establish the government as soon as he saw me. My response was that I don't have any moral grounds for creating a government. Not even enough numbers on my hand. In response, Rajiv Gandhi stated that you ought to establish the government. We'll provide you with external support.
Journalists questioned Rajiv Gandhi, upon Chandrashekhar's election as prime minister, on how long he planned to lead this government. "One month more than VP Singh's government," was Rajiv Gandhi's response.
'Main Bharat Ka PM''s eighth episode tells the story of Chandrashekhar's ascent to the Prime Ministership and features intriguing anecdotes about him.
When Advani's Rath Yatra was halted by Lalu, the VP government crumbled.
Rewind a few months, please. The prime minister was Janata Dal's Vishwanath Pratap Singh. The BJP and Left parties backed him. The VP government declared on August 7, 1990, that the Mandal Commission's recommendations will be put into practice. A reserve of 27% was set for classes that were considered backward.
"We have thrown out the child in the form of Mandal from the mother's womb," Vice President Singh had declared on announcing the implementation of the Mandal Commission report. No mother's son can place it back in her womb these days. This child will now advance.
Following the implementation of the Mandal Commission report, students belonging to the higher castes nationwide staged protests against it. The political landscape of the nation was rocked. The BJP had given up on working with this government. But overthrowing the administration right away would convey the incorrect message to the people.
To counter Mandal politics, the BJP initiated Kamandal politics. On the subject of Ram Janmabhoomi and the Babri Mosque, Lal Krishna Advani made the decision to go on a Rath Yatra. Advani was detained at the behest of VP Singh by Lalu Yadav, the Chief Minister of Janata Dal in Bihar. The BJP has a justification. The government withdrew its backing, forcing VP Singh to step down.
With the backing of the Congress, Chandrashekhar was able to win as prime minister.
Chandrashekhar and 64 other MPs broke away from the Janata Dal following the collapse of the VP cabinet. He founded the Janata Party, Samajwadi. With the backing of the Congress, which the Janata Dal had opposed, Chandrashekhar was able to take office as prime minister.
Following this, concerns were voiced in the political community over how Chandrashekhar could establish the government with Congress's backing.
In his book, Ram Bahadur Rai claims that people were taking their own lives all over the nation to express their opposition to Mandal. In this context, Chandrashekhar used the desire to bring about national peace as justification for creating the government with Congress's help. I'm assembling the government in response to the current situation.
Congress pulled its backing for the Chandrashekhar government after just three months. On March 6, 1991, Chandrashekhar was forced to step down due to his minority status. After that, he served in this capacity as acting prime minister until June 21, 1991, when the next prime minister was chosen.
"The day I became Prime Minister, curfew was imposed at 70-75 places," Chandrashekhar states in an interview with senior journalist Ram Bahadur Rai. The young people were killing themselves because they were furious with the Mandal Commission's recommendations. There were riots occurring throughout communities. However, I lacked any prior expertise in managing a government. I thought there was no way the government could last much longer. In spite of this, I thought a solution would be discovered. I was forced to resign since this did not occur.
Even after taking office, PM Chandrashekhar remained the same in tone and attire when he urged Nawaz to "go" and handed over Kashmir. Even outside of India, he used to speak in his native Khanti speech. One such fascinating episode is mentioned by journalist Santosh Bharatiya in his book "VP Singh, Chandrashekhar, Sonia Gandhi and I."
Chandrashekhar traveled to Male, the capital of the Maldives, to attend the Commonwealth Conference as soon as he was appointed prime minister. Nawaz Sharif, the prime minister of Pakistan, was also there. The two leaders once unexpectedly met. Putting his hand on his shoulder, Chandrashekhar murmured, "You misbehave a lot."
In response, Nawaz said, "You take away the cause of my bullying." Chandrashekhar inquired: "I'll take it down immediately if you tell me why." Bullying would stop if you give us Kashmir, according to Nawaz Sharif.
After giving Nawaz Sharif a brief glance, Chandrashekhar stated, "Go and give Kashmir." Nawaz Sharif said, "Let's sit in a room and talk," right away. completes the paperwork. Chandrashekhar began by asking, "Why is this necessary right now?" Just keep in mind that we have 15 crore Muslims in our country in addition to Kashmir. They also need to go with you.
Nawaz Sharif was taken aback and immediately began to wonder, "What does this mean?"
Chandrashekhar then declared, "You will take Kashmir from us based on the Muslim population." In every Indian village, there are Muslims. There would be a demand among the nation to drive these Muslims out as soon as you capture Kashmir. This will lead to riots everywhere since I don't have enough police or troops to keep things under control. I will make the announcement immediately if you are willing to accept Kashmir along with 15 crore Muslims in India in such a scenario.
After hearing Chandrashekhar's response, Nawaz Sharif fell silent. On the other hand, hot line service between the PM offices of both nations was established following this meeting. It allowed the two PMs to have direct conversations.
In an interview, Chandrashekhar's principal secretary, SK Mishra, stated that Nawaz Sharif began referring to Chandrashekhar as Bhai Saheb following this incident.
The treasury was empty, had to turn to America for loan.
The years 1989 to 1991 were tumultuous for Indian politics. First the Congress government went, then VP Singh became the Prime Minister and after him Chandrashekhar. Meanwhile, the issue of Mandal Commission, Ram Mandir movement, demonstrations and riots were going on. The economy was in very difficult times.
Because the treasury was empty, a loan from America was required.
It was a turbulent time for Indian politics from 1989 to 1991. The Congress government fell first, followed by VP Singh as prime minister and Chandrashekhar as prime minister. In the meantime, there were riots, protests, the Mandal Commission dispute, and the Ram Mandir movement. The times were particularly tough for the economy.
This coincided with the start of the Gulf War. Oil prices began to soar since the Indian economy was reliant on it. India's expenditure on oil imports was double that of previous years. India had virtually no foreign exchange reserves left. There was only enough import money for two weeks.
In his book "Prime Minister of India," Rashid Kidwai claims that the United States entered the Gulf War prematurely. Iraq maintained strong relations with India but was an enemy of the United States. India required a loan from the IMF, or the International Monetary Fund. The issue was that India found it challenging to obtain a loan because America had more than two thirds of the votes in the IMF.
America had a conversation with the then-foreign minister, Subramanian Swamy. America stipulated that India had to give them a base and a place to refuel before its ships could attack Iraq. He will give India a loan in exchange. Chief Minister Chandrashekhar agreed to the terms. But this was like cumin in the mouth of a camel.
In the end, the nation's gold was mortgaged by Prime Minister Chandrashekhar, RBI Governor S. Venkatramanan, Finance Minister Yashwant Sinha, and Manmohan Singh, his financial advisor. By that time, Congress had ended its support in February 1991. Up until June, Chandrashekhar served as acting prime minister, and it was at this period that the gold mortgage agreement was completed.
The Reserve Bank raised $400 million and committed 46.91 tons of gold in July. At this point, the nation was ruled by the government of Narasimha Rao. Following the public release of this information, the matter became so significant that Manmohan Singh was had to provide an explanation before the Parliament. The gold was purchased back in the same year that the nation's economy began to improve.
Mann was advised to "keep the sword in its sheath" by PM Chandrashekhar.
Fearless and fearless was the leadership of Chandrashekhar. Simranjit Singh Mann, the separatist leader of Punjab, once brought a long sword to the Prime Minister's house. He was stopped by a security guard who told him not to bring a sword to the Prime Minister's office. The sword was declined by Simranjit Singh Mann.
Chandrashekhar was informed. Mann approached with the sword, and he let him. In his book "Prime Minister of India," veteran journalist Rashid Kidwai writes: As a precaution, Chandrashekhar's personal security guard had left the door partially open. He was watching Maan from outside, along with his sword.
Mann went up to Chandrashekhar during the conversation. Taking out half of the sword, Maan declared, "This is a very deadly weapon that I inherited from my ancestors." Chandrashekhar responded, "Keep it in the sheath." In my ancestral home in Ballia, there is a larger, more lethal, and destructive sword than this one.
A fight broke out between Lohia and student leader Chandrashekhar.
Born in Ballia, Chandrashekhar attended school in Allahabad. After joining the Socialist Party, he began his political career with Lohia's party. Chandrashekhar was never regarded as Lohia's student, much like Lalu-Mulayam. He's well-known for getting into confrontations with them.
In order to invite socialist leader Acharya Narendra Dev, Chandrashekhar traveled to Allahabad. In Ballia, there was a student gathering. At that time, Lohia was also accompanying Acharya, who was unwell. Dr. Lohia should accompany Chandrashekhar, Acharya instructed. He is coming to the meeting here at my house.
Lohia stated, "I have to travel to Kolkata for my party's executive meeting." I'm unable to go. Chandrashekhar responded, "Come with me." Upon my return, I will drop you off in my vehicle at Buxar. From where the train to Calcutta will depart. Dr. Lohia concurred.
Upon arriving at Ballia railway station, he immediately set out to locate the jeep. You want a jeep in the evening, Dr. Saheb, Chandrashekhar clarified. The jeep will arrive at the appointed hour.
Dr. Saheb began to stammer. It was not to Chandrashekhar's liking. Feeling guilty about it, he began to consider that since I am a youthful leader and I have earned his trust by bringing him to Ballia, I will honor my promise. He gave Dr. Lohia another explanation.
Lohia continued to moan. Chandrashekhar became enraged at this. In the afternoon, he informed Lohia, "Doctor Saheb, your jeep is parked. Here's the route." We don't need your meeting, so please leave.
Lohia found this behavior astounding. This was the first time he had ever had an open conversation like this with a young leader.
Concerns about beard growth were brought up by RSS.
Since he was a student leader, Chandrashekhar used to maintain a beard. Upon his entry into the nation's political scene, he received advice from some to shave. The identical line from Chandrashekhar was usually said: "My politics have nothing to do with my beard." The reason Chandrashekhar used to have a beard has a backstory.
He resided at Allahabad University's Hindu Hostel. He shared a hostel with a guy who had tuberculosis. My buddy asked Chandrashekhar if he needed to travel to Jaipur for the interview. I was given a first-class pass. Must spend three days there. This is my one and only chance to go, so if you had left, I would have followed.
He got Chandrashekhar to accompany him. Chandrashekhar had been clean-shaven before that. After the friend went for the interview, Chandrashekhar—who usually shaved every day—began searching for a barbershop. In the streets of Jaipur, he observed individuals sitting on bricks getting their beards shaved. He went back to the motel again. He went to have his beard shaved on the second and third days as well, but he was unable to locate the location of his choosing. In this manner, his facial hair kept growing. Upon his return to Allahabad, a few acquaintances advised him to keep his beard since it suited him. He discovered this to be true as well and began developing a beard.
The Socialist Party was connected to Chandrashekhar. He was once asked, "Do you want to become Ashok Mehta by keeping a beard?" by certain individuals connected to RSS.
No, Chandrashekhar retorted. To become Gowalkar is my goal. In actuality, Ashok Mehta was a prominent Socialist Party leader. On the other hand, Gowalkar, also known as Madhav Sadashivrao Gowalkar, was the second Sarsanghchalak of the RSS and was well-known throughout the nation. They both used to have beards.
