'1991: Key Events

• Rajiv Gandhi is assassinated by suspected LTTE terrorists. A rising foreign debt and other dysfunctions inaugurate a policy of economic reform encouraging foreign investment.

• The USSR disintegrates.

• India conducts the last census of the century, announcing a popula- tion of 844 million.

• The Doordarshan Director General, Shiv Sharma survives an assassination attempt by suspected Punjab terrorists.

• Punjab is declared a ‘disturbed area’, followed by Assam.

• The 10th Lok Sabha elections take place with 200 million registered voters. The Congress emerges as the largest party and P.V. Narasimha Rao is sworn in as Prime Minister.

• The first-ever BJP ministry takes over in U.P and acquires the disputed Ayodhya land.

• Parliament passes the notorious Terrorists and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) (TADA) Bill.

• The Parliamentary ‘Question Hour’ is telecast for the first time.