Narasimha Rao receives mention in Sonia’s speech

NEW DELHI - After years of being ignored, former prime minister P.V. Narasimha Rao was mentioned by Congress president Sonia Gandhi in her speech at the Congress plenary here Sunday.

“P.V.Narasimha Rao gave a fresh impetus to the process of economic reforms,” Gandhi said in her inaugural speech at the delegates session.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who was the finance minister under Rao, and other top leaders were present during Gandhi’s speech.

Gandhi did not have cordial relations with Rao when he was prime minister (1991-96). Their relations remained strained after his tenure ended.

However, the huge cut-out of top Congress leaders over the years - which formed the backdrop of the dais - excluded Rao though it had images of all other former Congress prime ministers - Jawaharlal Nehru, Lal Bahadur Shastri, Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi.