Thread by @asraghunath

Let me unmask Rajiv Gandhi's communal mind-set.
Leading election in Dec 1984, he unleashed communal campaign in Print!
Created by his cousin Arun Nehru's friends in Rediffusion, the campaign depicted Sikhs as enemy, out to divide and destroy India.
This was one of that series:

Read the ad's copy that balatantly targets Sikhs:
"Why should u smile uneasily at yr next door neighbor just because he belongs to another community or speaks another language?
Why should feel uncomfortable riding in a taxi driven by a taxi driver who belongs to another state?

Rajiv Gandhi's campaign was based on negativity that aimed to create hatred against Sikhs.
Sikhs living in great fear, had the only self-defense provided to them by the constitution was Ballot. They turned out in large number to vote wherever they lived.
[HT Delhi's 1984 issue]

Delhi's Sikhs living then in fear for their safety as Rajiv Gandhi's @INCIndia goons stalked them in their locality, Delhi's Sikh turned out in large number in December 1984 electionto vote against Rajiv Gandhi.

@INCIndia While Delhi's Sikh feared for their life, elsewhere during election campaign, Rajiv Gandhi mouthed the bluffing platitude: His Government was determined to ensure Sikh's safety.
Fact is that post 1984, Sikhs started migrating to other countries like Canada & elsewhere.

@INCIndia It wasn't entirely a sympathy wave that swept Rajiv Gandhi to power post Indira's assassination.
@INCIndia unleashed fear psychosis in Indians of a non-existent Sikh terrorism & an imaginary war by Pak.
I'm not sure if such ads would've been approved by @ECISVEEP today

@INCIndia @ECISVEEP Post this election when Rajiv Gandhi swept to power [only state that defied his fear-wave was NTR led AP] he immediately rewarded the perpetrators of Delhi Sikh-Riots in Delhi like Jagdish Tytler, Kamal Nath, HKL Bhagat etc.
He dropped Indira's all season man @CitiznMukherjee

@INCIndia @ECISVEEP @CitiznMukherjee During 1984 election campaign, Rajiv Gandhi made fun of the then Milavati Gathbandhan of 1977.
The irony is that today his #Pappu son @RahulGandhi and Pagli Babli @priyankagandhi are largely falling back of the same 'common greed' factor that their dad ridiculed back then

@INCIndia @ECISVEEP @CitiznMukherjee @RahulGandhi @priyankagandhi The pessimist Rajiv Gandhi after running loudest negative election campaign in 1984, promised unity, order, equality, ideology, strength, plenty, growth & progress.
By 1989 that Mr spotlessly Clean looked soiled and tainted in Bofors Scam!

@INCIndia @ECISVEEP @CitiznMukherjee @RahulGandhi @priyankagandhi This cartoon released during Rajiv Gandhi's Regime, explains Mr. Clean's governance.

@INCIndia @ECISVEEP @CitiznMukherjee @RahulGandhi @priyankagandhi Rajiv Gandhi winning 400+ seats created a hope in the people who were fatigued by hollow ruling of his mother. Ad were release in dailies like Hindustan Times in Delhi. But much like @ArvindKejriwal this Delhi emperor too couldn't live up to people's expectations.

@INCIndia @ECISVEEP @CitiznMukherjee @RahulGandhi @priyankagandhi @ArvindKejriwal Rajiv Gandhi promised Clean Governance. But soon newspapers started reflecting that not everything was in order between Prez Prez Zail Singh & Rajiv. His FM VP Singh was the other dissenter. And soon enough, Bofors surfaced. Delhi's roaring emperor suddenly looked meek, docile.

@INCIndia @ECISVEEP @CitiznMukherjee @RahulGandhi @priyankagandhi @ArvindKejriwal There were corporates releasing such reminiscing ads during RajivG days- just to keep Indira Gandhi's glory going!
This ad describes her efforts in advancement of technology! What technology? She brought in power-cut regime! For phone connection, one had to wait for over 3 years!