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Journalism of Courage
In a candid admission of how Sanjay Gandhis arbitrary and authoritarian manner had annoyed the people during Emergency,a book brought out by the ruling Congress has stated that the then government led by Indira Gandhi had decided to pursue family planning due to her younger sons initiatives.
Noting that Sanjay Gandhi had by then emerged as a leader of great significance,it said it was due to his support to family planning initiative that the government decided to pursue it more vigorously. He also promoted slum clearance,anti-dowry measures and promotion of literacy but in an arbitrary and authoritarian manner much to the annoyance of the popular opinion, the book says.
According to the book,while vast sections of the population welcomed the moves initially since general administration improved,civil rights activists took exception to the curbs on freedom of expression and personal liberties. Unfortunately,in certain spheres,over-enthusiasm led to compulsion in enforcement of certain programmes like compulsory sterilisation and clearing of slums.
On Rajiv years,the book says in his anxiety to make quick changes,he shuffled and reshuffled his team both in the party and the government frequently. The promises of reform in the party which he made in his famous Bombay speech as a corollary to attack power brokers in the party,could not be fulfilled. Party elections,long overdue,were put off again and again, notes the book.
