1947:
Partition Of India. Divided the nation, created a hostile neighbour.
1948:
Nehru's Call For Ceasefire. India lost a crucial part of Kashmir.
1972:
Shimla Agreement. Failed to address the core issue of Kashmir.
1975:
Emergency. The Congress bears the stigma even today.
1977:
Ban On Coca-Cola & IBM. Sent an anti-MNC message to the world.
1984:
Operation Blue Star. Led to Indira Gandhi's assassination.
1984:
Dismissal Of The J&K Government. Farooq Abdullah was the chief minister. The drawing room dismissal was seen as an example of Delhi's authoritarianism.
1984:
Anti-Sikh Riots. Changed identity politics in Punjab forever.
1985:
Reversal of supreme court verdict in the Shah Bano case. Was seen as blatant appeasement of Muslim fundamentalists by Rajiv Gandhi.
1986:
Bofors Gun Deal. Allegations of kickbacks tarred Rajiv's clean image.
1986:
Removal Of Locks On The Disputed Site In Ayodhya. A move by the Congress to revive its Hindu votebank. It boomeranged.
1986-87:
Operation Brasstacks. The war game nearly caused an Indo-Pak war.
1987:
Indo-Sri Lanka Pact. Led to Rajiv Gandhi's assassination.
1988:
Ban on Salman Rushdie's The Satanic Verses. Stoked communal passions and is still cited as an example of appeasement politics.
1989:
Dismissal of S.R. Bommai as Karnataka CM. The Supreme Court later ruled the dismissal as 'unconstitutional' and it became a landmark of what not to do.
1989:
Shilanyas in Ayodhya. Gave the BJP an excuse to step up politics of hate.
1989: Exchange Of Terrorists For Rubaiya Sayeed. Set a precedent, which was exploited in the IC-814 hijack. Gave India the image of a state soft on militants
1990:
V.P. Singh's Mandal Politics, Advani's Rathyatra. Both played the politics of divide. The tremors are still being felt in Indian politics.
1991:
Pledging Of Nation's Gold Reserves. Final proof of bankruptcy.
1992:
Babri Masjid Demolition. Alienated the Muslims, sparked Mumbai riots.
1993:
JMM Bribery Case. A prime minister had to face charges of corruption. Horse trading came to be seen as an unsavoury part of Indian democracy.
1993:
Jain Hawala Case. Affected the careers of 24 politicians, though the Jain diaries were later dismissed by the court as insufficient evidence.
1998:
Midnight Swearing-In Of Jagdambika Pal As UP CM. He was chief minister for only a day. Cited as the worst instance of political opportunism.
1999:
Sonia Gandhi's Premature Effort To Form Government. Her critics still mock her for her political naiveté as she clearly did not have the numbers.
1999:
IC-814 Hijack. India's foreign minister escorted militants to Kandahar.
2002:
Gujarat Riots. Blotted the BJP's 'no riots' claim forever.
2003:
Operation Parakram. Built up a war mood against Pakistan.
2004:
Killing Of Manoroma Devi In Custody. Led to riots in Manipur.
2005:
Shibu Soren Sworn In As Jharkhand CM. He did not have majority support, yet the Governor asked him to form the government.
2005:
Dissolution Of The Bihar Assembly. The Supreme Court reprimanded Governor Buta Singh who had dissolved the house without a trial of strength.
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