Bofors scam effects Rajiv Gandhi Image

Today is the birth anniversary of Rajiv Gandhi, the former Prime Minister of the country and a member of the third generation of the Nehru-Gandhi family. He was born on this day in 1944 at the home of Indira Gandhi and Turquoise Gandhi (Khan). While Rajiv Gandhi is credited with bringing about an industrial revolution in the country, he is also named in a major scam during his tenure, the Bofors scam, whose name the Congress comes back to the backfoot.

In fact, the Bofors gun deal with Sweden led to a landslide in the country's state in the 1980s. In 1989, the Congress had to lose power because of it. Italian businessman Ottavio Quattrocchi's close proximity to the Gandhi family has also been under question in the case. On the other hand, former Swedish Police Chief Stan Lindstrom has said that there is no evidence to have taken bribe against former Indian PM Rajiv Gandhi in the Bofors scam. Though he says there was strong evidence against Italian businessman Ottavio Quattrocchi, the then PM Rajiv Gandhi tried to save Quattrocchi.

Rajiv Gandhi is also accused of helping Quattrocchi to leave India quietly. Though the truth about this has not been confirmed, quattrocchi's proximity to the Gandhi family and his role in the Bofors deal certainly raises questions about Rajiv Gandhi.