Rao, P. V. Narasimha, << ROW, nah rah SIHM HAH >> (1921-2004), was prime minister of India from 1991 to 1996. He led the Congress-I Party. As prime minister, he introduced economic reforms designed to encourage foreign investment and to increase economic development. However, his government was hampered by conflicts between the country’s religious and ethnic groups.
Pamulaparti Venkata Narasimha Rao was born in Karimnagar, near Warangal. He studied at Bombay and Nagpur universities. Rao became active in the Congress Party in the 1940’s. In 1969, the party split into one group that supported Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and another that opposed her. Indira Gandhi’s group became the Congress-I Party in 1978. Rao remained loyal to Gandhi and her son Rajiv, who succeeded her in 1984. In the 1980’s, Rao held several cabinet positions, including foreign affairs minister and minister of defense. In May 1991, the Congress-I Party chose Rao as its head after party leader Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated. Rao became prime minister in June, after his party won the most seats in parliamentary elections. The Congress-I Party failed to win a majority of seats in elections held in April and May 1996, and Rao was replaced as prime minister. He resigned as leader of the Congress-I Party in September.
In 1997, Rao was charged with criminal conspiracy and bribery. The charges stemmed from a 1993 incident in which Rao allegedly tried to bribe four lawmakers from another party to support his government in a confidence vote. In 2000, a special court convicted Rao of the charges, and he was sentenced to three years in prison. But Rao appealed the conviction, and the charges were overturned. Rao died on Dec. 23, 2004.
See also India, History of (Religious and ethnic unrest); Indian National Congress.
