Inder Kumar Gujral

{{Short description|Prime Minister of India from 1997 to 1998}} {{Use Indian English|date=June 2021}} {{Use dmy dates|date=December 2024}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Inder Kumar Gujral | image = Inder Kumar Gujral (cropped).jpg | caption = Official portrait, {{circa|1997}} | office = Prime Minister of India | president = Shankar Dayal Sharma K. R. Narayanan | vice_president = K. R. Narayanan Krishan Kant | term_start = 21 April 1997 | term_end = 19 March 1998 | predecessor = H. D. Deve Gowda | successor = Atal Bihari Vajpayee | office2 = Union Minister of Finance | term_start2 = 21 April 1997 | term_end2 = 1 May 1997 | prime_minister2 = ''Himself'' | predecessor2 = P. Chidambaram | successor2 = P. Chidambaram | office3 = Union Minister of External Affairs | prime_minister3 = H. D. Deve Gowda ''Himself'' | prime_minister5 = {{Plainlist| * Indira Gandhi * Morarji Desai * Charan Singh}} | term_start3 = 1 June 1996 | term_end3 = 19 March 1998 | predecessor3 = Sikander Bakht | successor3 = Atal Bihari Vajpayee | prime_minister4 = V. P. Singh | term_start4 = 5 December 1989 | term_end4 = 10 November 1990 | predecessor4 = V. P. Singh | successor4 = Chandra Shekhar | office6 = Leader of the House in Rajya Sabha | term_start7 = June 1996 | term_end7 = November 1996 | predecessor7 = Sikander Bakht | successor7 = H. D. Deve Gowda | term_start6 = April 1997 | term_end6 = March 1998 | predecessor6 = H. D. Deve Gowda | successor6 = Sikander Bakh | office10 = Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha | constituency10 = Jalandhar, Punjab | term_start10 = 10 March 1998 | term_end10 = 26 April 1999 | predecessor10 = Darbara Singh | successor10 = Balbir Singh | constituency11 = Jalandhar, Punjab | term_start11 = 28 November 1989 | term_end11 = 21 June 1991 | predecessor11 = Rajinder Singh Sparrow | successor11 = Yash | office8 = Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha | constituency8 = Bihar | term_start8 = 8 July 1992 | term_end8 = {{End date|1998|03|2|df=y}} | constituency9 = Punjab | term_start9 = 3 April 1964 | term_end9 = {{End date|1976|04|2|df=y}} | office5 = Ambassador of India to the Soviet Union | term_start5 = 1976 | term_end5 = 1980 | predecessor5 = Durga Prasad Dhar | successor5 = V. K. Ahuja

| office12 = Union Minister Of Information and Broadcasting Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (India) | term12 = 08 November 1973 - 28 June1975 | predecessor12 = Indira Gandhi | successor12 = Vidya Charan Shukla

| office13 = Union Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs Minister of Works and Housing (Independent Charge) | term13 = 18 March 1971 - 2 May 1971 | predecessor13 = Kodardas Kalidas Shah | successor13 = Uma Shankar Dikshit

| office14 =Union Minister of State for Works and Housing

| office16 = Union Minister of State for Planning Minister of State for Planning | term16 = 28 June 1975 - 12 May 1976 | predecessor16 = Vidya Charan Shukla | successor16 = Sankar Ghose

| birth_date = {{birth date|df=y|1919|12|04}}<ref>''Matters of Discretion'' – An autobiography by I. K. Gujral</ref> | death_date = {{death date and age|df=y|2012|11|30|1919|12|04}} | birth_place = Pari Darveza, Punjab, British India | death_place = Gurugram, Haryana, India | module = {{Infobox person|embed=yes|monuments=Smriti Sthal}} | party = {{bulleted list|Indian National Congress (1964–1988)|Janata Dal (1988–1998)}} | other_party = | spouse = {{marriage|Sheila Gujral|1945|2011|end=died}} | children = 2, including Naresh Gujral | parents = Avtar Narain Gujral (father) Pushpa Gujral (mother) | relatives = Satish Gujral (brother) Raseel Gujral Ansal (niece) | alma_mater = D.A.V. College Hailey College of Commerce Forman Christian College | order =  | order2 =  | order1 =  }}

'''Inder Kumar Gujral''' (4 December 1919 – 30 November 2012) was an Indian diplomat, politician, and independence activist, who served as  prime minister of India from April 1997 to March 1998.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.pmindia.gov.in/en/former_pm/shri-inder-kumar-gujral/ |title=Shri Inder Kumar Gujral}}</ref>

Born in Punjab, he was influenced by politics as a student, and joined the All India Students Federation and the Communist Party of India. He was imprisoned for taking part in the Quit India movement. After independence, he joined the Indian National Congress party in 1964, and became a Member of Parliament in the Rajya Sabha.

He was the Minister of Information and Broadcasting during the emergency. In 1976, he was appointed as the Ambassador of India to the Soviet Union. In 1996, he became the Minister of External Affairs in the Deve Gowda ministry, and developed the Gujral doctrine during this period. He was appointed the prime minister of India in 1997. His tenure lasted for less than a year.

He retired from all political positions in 1998. He died in 2012 at the age of 92, following hospitalization due to a lung infection.

==Early and personal life== Inder Kumar was born on 4 December 1919 in a Punjabi Hindu Khatri family<ref>{{Cite news|last=Ghai|first=Rajat|date=7 May 2014|title=The office of Prime Minister: A largely north Indian upper-caste, Hindu affair|work=Business Standard India|url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/opinion/the-office-of-prime-minister-a-largely-north-indian-upper-caste-hindu-affair-114050700846_1.html|access-date=6 August 2020}}</ref> to Avtar Narain and Pushpa Gujral in the village of Pari Darveza in the Sohawa Tehsil of the Jhelum District in undivided Punjab in British India, which is in present-day Punjab, Pakistan. He studied at D.A.V. College, Hailey College of Commerce and Forman Christian College, Lahore, all affiliated with the University of the Punjab. He was a member of All India Students Federation. He also participated in the Indian independence movement,<ref name="pioneer">{{cite news|url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/2012/20121201/main1.htm |title=Ex-Prime Minister IK Gujral dies at 92 |publisher=Tribune India |date=1 December 2012 |access-date=1 December 2012}}</ref> and was jailed in 1942 during the Quit India Movement.<ref name="indep">{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/indian-intrigue-on-hold-as-pm-is-sworn-in-1268624.html|title= Indian intrigue on hold as PM is sworn in|last=McGirk|first=Jan|date=22 April 1997|work=The Independent|access-date=25 January 2010|location=India}}</ref> As a student, he became a member of the Communist Party of India.<ref name="dna"/> He also has two sisters, Uma Nanda and Sunita Judge. On 26 May 1945, Inder Kumar Gujral married Sheila Gujral (24 January 1924 – 11 July 2011)<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.pmindia.gov.in/en/former_pm/shri-inder-kumar-gujral/| title = Shri Inder Kumar Gujral {{!}} Prime Minister of India}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JhXmEYWHDHYC&q=Shiela+Gujral+1924&pg=PA133 |title = International Who's Who in Poetry 2004|isbn = 9781857431780|last1 = Publications|first1 = Europa|year = 2003| publisher=Taylor & Francis }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|agency=PTI|date=12 July 2011|title=Sheila Gujral passes away|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/sheila-gujral-passes-away/article2219383.ece|access-date=31 October 2020|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> and had two sons, Naresh Gujral (born 19 May 1948), who is a former Rajya Sabha MP, and Vishal Gujral. IK Gujral's younger brother Satish Gujral was a world-renowned painter and sculptor.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Satish Gujral, renowned artist and architect, dies at 94|url=https://www.theweek.in/news/entertainment/2020/03/27/satish-gujral-renowned-artist-and-architect-dies-at-94.html|access-date=13 June 2020|website=The Week|language=en}}</ref>

Gujral's hobbies included poetry;<ref name="hindu">{{cite web |url=http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/former-prime-minister-ik-gujral-passes-away/article4150486.ece |title=Business Line: News: Architect of 'Gujral Doctrine' is no more |work=Business Line |date=30 November 2012 |access-date=2 December 2012}}</ref> he spoke Urdu and was, after his death, eulogised as a lover of the language by Maulana Azad National Urdu University, an institution where he held the position of chancellor.<ref name="UrduUni">{{cite web |url=http://www.siasat.com/english/news/urdu-university-pays-tributes-its-first-chancellor-gujral |title=Urdu university pays tributes to its first chancellor Gujral |work=The Siasat Daily |date=30 November 2012 |access-date=30 November 2012}}</ref> His wife Sheila Gujral, an acclaimed poet, died on 11 July 2011 after an illness. The couple had two sons, Naresh, who is a Shiromani Akali Dal MP in the Rajya Sabha,<ref name=ie-nomore>{{cite news |url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/sheila-gujral-no-more/816038/ |title=Sheila Gujral no more |work=The Indian Express |date=11 July 2011|access-date=5 March 2012}}</ref> and Vishal. The couple also have two granddaughters and a grandson.

==Early politics== Gujral became vice-president of the New Delhi Municipal Committee in 1958,<ref>{{cite web |title=NMDC History |url=http://www.ndmc.gov.in/AboutNdmc/History.aspx |publisher=NMDC |access-date=10 December 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121215025220/http://www.ndmc.gov.in/AboutNdmc/History.aspx |archive-date=15 December 2012 }}</ref> and joined the Congress party (INC) in 1964.<ref name="et"/> He was close to Indira Gandhi, and became a member of the Rajya Sabha in April 1964. During the Emergency of June 1975, Gujral was Minister of Information and Broadcasting, where he was in charge of the media during a time of censorship in India and was in charge of Doordarshan. He again was elected to the Rajya Sabha to serve until 1976. He also served as Water Resources Minister. Later, Gujral was appointed Ambassador of India to the Soviet Union<ref name="pioneer"/> by Indira Gandhi and stayed on during the tenures of Morarji Desai and Charan Singh.<ref name="dna"/> He was rumoured to have been shunted out of the ministry due to conflicts with the prime minister's son, Sanjay Gandhi,<ref name="hindu"/><ref name=zeenews>{{cite news|title=Former PM IK Gujral cremated with full state honours|url=http://zeenews.india.com/news/nation/former-pm-ik-gujral-to-be-given-state-funeral-today_813934.html|access-date=1 December 2012|newspaper=Zee News|date=2 December 2012}}</ref> over media censorship,<ref name="et"/> and was replaced by Vidya Charan Shukla, who had no qualms following party lines on the matter; he was then moved to the Planning Ministry.<ref name="dna"/>

==Janata Dal== Gujral resigned from the Indian National Congress party in the 1980s. Then he joined the Janata Dal.<ref name="hindu"/><ref name=punjabnews>{{cite news|title=Remembering IK Gujral|url=http://punjabnewsexpress.com/news/12319-Remembering-IK-Gujral--.aspx|access-date=1 December 2012|newspaper=Punjab News Express|date=30 November 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121203062843/http://www.punjabnewsexpress.com/news/12319-Remembering-IK-Gujral--.aspx|archive-date=3 December 2012}}</ref> In the 1989 Indian general election, Gujral was elected from Jalandhar in Punjab. He served as Minister of External Affairs in Prime Minister V. P. Singh's eleventh cabinet of India. In 1989, Singh sent him to Srinagar to negotiate with the perpetrators of the 1989 kidnapping of Rubaiya Sayeed.<ref name="pioneer"/> He also brought about controversy during the Gulf War when he hugged Saddam Hussein as a show-of-good-faith to ensure Indian expatriates would be safe.<ref name="et"/> In the 1991 Indian general election, Gujral contested from Patna in Bihar. However, the election was countermanded<ref name="pioneer"/> following complaints of 'irregularities'.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.sunday-guardian.com/news/lalu-introduced-gujral-as-gujjar-to-the-people-of-patna |title=Lalu introduced Gujral as 'Gujjar' to the people of Patna |access-date=6 December 2012 |archive-date=3 December 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161203062813/http://www.sunday-guardian.com/news/lalu-introduced-gujral-as-gujjar-to-the-people-of-patna |url-status=dead }}</ref> In 1992, Gujral was elected to the Rajya Sabha with the help of Lalu Prasad Yadav.<ref name="pioneer"/>

Subsequent to the 1996 election, when the United Front government was formed under the premiership of H. D. Deve Gowda, Gujral was again named Minister of External Affairs.<ref name="hindu"/><ref name=punjabnews/> During this tenure, he developed the 'Gujral doctrine' which emphasised better relations with India's neighbours and was refined when he became prime minister.<ref name="dna"/> He also served as Union Minister or Minister of State of several other portfolios—Communications and Parliamentary Affairs, Information and Broadcasting, Works and Housing and Planning.<ref name=dailybhaskar>{{cite news|title=RIP IK Gujral: A look at the man who gave India 'Gujral doctrine'|url=http://daily.bhaskar.com/article/NAT-TOP-rip-ik-gujral-a-look-at-the-man-who-gave-india-gujral-doctrine-4094844-NOR.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121203071513/http://daily.bhaskar.com/article/NAT-TOP-rip-ik-gujral-a-look-at-the-man-who-gave-india-gujral-doctrine-4094844-NOR.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=3 December 2012|access-date=1 December 2012|newspaper=Daily Bhaskar|date=30 November 2012}}</ref>

The Indian National Congress party had been supporting the United Front government from outside, but citing its wish to have the incumbent prime minister replaced, decided to withdraw support;<ref name="et">{{cite news |url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/inder-kumar-gujral-dead-but-his-doctrine-still-relevant/articleshow/17433487.cms |title=Inder Kumar Gujral dead, but his doctrine still relevant – The Economic Times |work=The Economic Times |access-date=2 December 2012}}</ref> this led to the government's collapse in April 1997. To avoid mid-term elections, a compromise was reached: the INC agreed to support another United Front government under a new leader, provided its concerns—such as not being consulted before taking important decisions and being marginalised—were addressed. The United Front elected Gujral as its new leader, and he was sworn in as Prime Minister on 21 April 1997.

== Prime Minister of India (1997–1998) == Gujral became prime minister as the consensus candidate between others that included Lalu Prasad Yadav, Mulayam Singh Yadav;<ref name="dp">{{cite web |author=Former PM IK Gujral passes away |url=http://www.dailypioneer.com/home/online-channel/360-todays-newspaper/112347-former-pm-ik-gujral-passes-away.html |title=Former PM IK Gujral passes away|work=Daily Pioneer|date=28 August 2011|access-date=1 December 2012}}</ref> his government was supported by the INC from outside. In the early weeks of his tenure, the Central Bureau of Investigation asked for permission from the Governor of Bihar, A. R. Kidwai, to prosecute the state Chief Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav in a corruption case related to the Fodder Scam,<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.ndtv.com/article/people/the-legacy-of-inder-kumar-gujral-299303|title=The legacy of Inder Kumar Gujral|publisher= NDTV| access-date= 2 December 2012}}</ref> a move that Kidwai sanctioned. Even legal scholars said that Yadav could not escape prosecution.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rediff.in/news/may/01fodder.htm|title=Laloo's fate sealed, legal experts assure Gujral|publisher=Rediff|access-date=2 December 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130217223614/http://www.rediff.in/news/may/01fodder.htm|archive-date=17 February 2013}}</ref> Subsequently, the demand for the resignation of Yadav was raised both from within and outside the United Front. United Front and Telugu Desam Party leader Chandrababu Naidu and Communist Party of India (Marxist) General Secretary Harkishen Singh Surjeet called for action against Yadav and for the resignation of other RJD members;<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rediff.in/news/jun/18bihar.htm |title=Get tough on Laloo Yadav, Gujral told |publisher=Rediff |access-date=2 December 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130218001032/http://www.rediff.in/news/jun/18bihar.htm |archive-date=18 February 2013 }}</ref> while the same was said by JD members Sharad Yadav, H. D. Deve Gowda and Ram Vilas Paswan who called for the dismissal of accused RJD members Kanti Singh, Raghuvansh Prasad Singh and Captain Jai Narain Nishad. Though INC chairperson Sitaram Kesri offered minor calls for Yadav's resignation, Yadav then offered Gujral support to run from any Lok Sabha constituency in Bihar to get his support. Gujral, however, was silent on the matter,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rediff.com/news/dec/19guj.htm |title=Gujral caught in JD-RJD crossfire |publisher=Rediff |date=19 December 1997 |access-date=2 December 2012}}</ref> but later controversially transferred the CBI director Joginder Singh, who was investigating the case against Yadav, and replaced him with R. C. Sharma, who said Gujral would directly control the CBI and that the pace of investigating many sensational cases "will definitely slacken now."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rediff.com/news/jul/01cbi2.htm |title=Go easy on politicians, sensitive investigations, govt tells new CBI chief |publisher=Rediff|access-date=2 December 2012}}</ref> However, Yadav was still expelled from the party by JD leader Sharad Yadav, before forming his own Rashtriya Janata Dal in 1997.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/bihar-elections-2010/parties/story/rashtriya-janata-dal-rjd-84167-2010-10-18|title=Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) : Parties, News – India Today|work=India Today|date=19 October 2010|access-date=2 December 2012}}</ref> [[File:President of India Shankar Dayal Sharma administering the oath of office of Prime Minister of India to Shri I. K. Gujral at the Rashtrapati Bhavan.jpg|left|thumb|President of India Shankar Dayal Sharma administering the oath of office of Prime Minister of India to Shri I. K. Gujral at the Rashtrapati Bhavan]] Another controversial decision of his government was its recommendation of President's rule in Uttar Pradesh in 1997. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Uttar Pradesh government, headed by Kalyan Singh, sought a vote of confidence after violence and unruly scenes took place in the assembly. However, President K.R. Narayanan refused to sign the recommendation and sent it back to the government for reconsideration.<ref name="pioneer"/> The Allahabad High Court also gave a decision against President's rule in Uttar Pradesh.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rediff.in/news/1996/1912up.htm |title=Allahabad high court declares President's rule in UP 'unconstitutional' |publisher=Rediff |access-date=2 December 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130218004307/http://www.rediff.in/news/1996/1912up.htm |archive-date=18 February 2013 }}</ref> He also resisted signing the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty.<ref name="et"/>

On 28 August 1997, the Jain Commission report was submitted to the government<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rediff.com/news/sep/08jain.htm |title=Panel to study Jain commission report on Rajiv killing |publisher=Rediff |access-date=2 December 2012}}</ref> and was leaked on 16 November.<ref name="Jai1999">{{cite book |author=Rajiv Jai |title=Political Trends: Revival of Two Party System in India |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fNVfuDxIO0EC&pg=PA21 |access-date=2 December 2012 |date=1 January 1999 |publisher=Regency Publ |isbn=978-81-86030-16-5 |pages=21}}</ref> The commission had inquired into the conspiracy aspects of the Rajiv Gandhi assassination and reportedly criticised the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK),<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cscsarchive.org:8081/MediaArchive/audience.nsf/(docid)/CAB2A53CCB05F9A065256942002E3D21 |title=Jain Commission Revelations: Damning The Dmk The Inquiry Into Rajiv Gandhi's Killing Indicts The Dmk For Colluding With The Ltte |publisher=CSCS Archive |access-date=2 December 2012}}{{dead link |date=December 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes}}</ref> amongst others such as the Narasimha Rao government, for tacitly supporting Tamil militants accused in Gandhi's assassination. The DMK was part of the ruling coalition at the center and had ministers in the Union Cabinet. The Congress first demanded the tabling of the report on the floor of the parliament, which was refused by Gujral, who feared a battle between the DMK and the Tamil Maanila Congress would lead to the DMK's withdrawal from the government.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rediff.com/news/aug/30jain.htm |title=Jain Commission report may upset UF applecart |publisher=Rediff |access-date=2 December 2012}}</ref> Gujral later formed a Joint Parliamentary Committee to study the report after informing Sitaram Keshri of the decision, to which Keshri acceded. INC parliamentary party leader Sharad Pawar said they would call for the resignation of anyone implicated in the report. Gujral convened the government to inform them of the updates and said it supported the DMK. The DMK's Industry Minister Murasoli Maran said: "We are part of the United Front. We will stand and fall together. I am hundred per cent confident of that. If it were so easy to break the United Front, then it will be called the disunited front. No one is going to ditch their colleagues for a few loaves of power. We have no reason to quit at all. The report is full of recycled news. There is nothing startling about it, everybody already knows what the report is saying. A Madras court is expected to give its verdict on a criminal case on the assassination on January 28. Let us wait till then to know who was involved in the dastardly act. Until then, all this is disinformation." However, the Tamil Maanila Congress called for the DMK, which was in a coalition government in Tamil Nadu, to share all actions it would undertake.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rediff.in/news/nov/18cong.htm|title=Joint Parliamentary Committee on Jain panel report to bail out Gujral|publisher=Rediff|date=17 November 1997|access-date=2 December 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130218061715/http://www.rediff.in/news/nov/18cong.htm |archive-date=18 February 2013 }}</ref> The report was tabled on 20 November 1997.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.frontlineonnet.com/fl1424/14240140.htm |title=Karunanidhi hits back |publisher=Front Line |access-date=2 December 2012}}</ref> On the same day there were angry scenes in parliament, as the INC then called for the DMK's removal from the cabinet and refused to partake in any parliamentary debate until that happened. Speaker P.A. Sangma then adjourned the house.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rediff.in/news/nov/20cong.htm|title=Only a miracle will save Gujral |publisher=Rediff |date=20 November 1997 |access-date=2 December 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130218072551/http://www.rediff.in/news/nov/20cong.htm |archive-date=18 February 2013 }}</ref> The INC finally withdrew support from his government on 28 November<ref name="nytquit">{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/11/29/world/premier-of-india-quits-deepening-political-bedlam.html |title=Premier of India quits, deepening political bedlam |last=Burns |first=John F |date=29 November 1997 |work=The New York Times |access-date=25 January 2010}}</ref> after Gujral sent Kesri a letter saying he would not dismiss any DMK leaders. Gujral resigned following the withdrawal, and sent a letter to President K. R. Narayanan that read: "My government has lost its majority and does not want to continue in office on moral grounds", but did not call for the dissolution of parliament. The president accepted the resignation, but asked for Gujral to stay on in an interim capacity. INC General Secretary Oscar Fernandes then said: "All the secular parties are welcome to support a government which will be attempted by the Congress." The United Front's leader Chandrababu Naidu got the support of all the constituents saying they would neither support the INC nor the Bharatiya Janata Party, as did the TMC, saying they would not allow a "U.P.-like situation to happen in the centre." In similar measure, BJP leader M. Venkaiah Naidu said the party would "throttle" INC attempts to form a new government.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rediff.com/news/nov/28uf.htm |title=Congress withdraws support to UF govt; PM resigns |publisher=Rediff |date=29 November 1997 |access-date=2 December 2012}}</ref> The president then dissolved parliament on 4 December,<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fNVfuDxIO0EC&q=jain+commission+congress+resign&pg=PA21|title=Political Trends: Revival of Two Party System in India – Rajiv Jai|access-date=2 December 2012|isbn=9788186030165|last1=Jai|first1=Rajiv|year=1999|publisher=Regency Publications }}</ref> triggering a snap election.

As a Prime minister, Gujral had a practice of reserving Friday mornings for meeting the general public.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rediff On The NeT: Gujral shakes a weary head: Distressing, most distressing... |url=http://www.rediff.com/news/jul/18gujral.htm |access-date=3 May 2022 |website=www.rediff.com}}</ref>

==Gujral doctrine== The Gujral doctrine is a set of five principles to guide the conduct of foreign relations with India's immediate neighbours, notably Pakistan, as spelt out by Gujral.<ref name="pioneer"/> The doctrine was later termed as such by journalist Bhabani Sen Gupta in his article, ''India in the Twenty First Century'' in International Affairs. These principles are, as he set out at Chatham House in September 1996 (which he later reiterated at the Bandaranaike Centre for International Studies):<ref>{{cite web |url=http://idsa.in/askanexpert/GujralDoctrine%3F |title=Anil Kumar Reddy asked: What is Gujral doctrine |publisher=IDSA |access-date=2 December 2012 |archive-date=29 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201129040834/https://idsa.in/askanexpert/GujralDoctrine |url-status=dead }}</ref>

{{Quote box | quote = The United Front Government's neighbourhood policy now stands on five basic principles: First, with the neighbours like Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives and Sri Lanka, India does not ask for reciprocity but gives all that it can in good faith and trust. Secondly, no South Asian country will allow its territory to be used against the interest of another country of the region. Thirdly, none will interfere in the internal affairs of another. Fourthly, all South Asian countries must respect each other's territorial integrity and sovereignty. And finally, they will settle all their disputes through peaceful bilateral negotiations. These five principles, scrupulously observed, will, I am sure, recast South Asia's regional relationship, including the tormented relationship between India and Pakistan, in a friendly, cooperative mould. | align = right | width = 400px }}

He wrote in his autobiography of the doctrine: "The logic behind the Gujral doctrine was that since we had to face two hostile neighbours in the north and the west, we had to be at 'total peace' with all other immediate neighbours in order to contain Pakistan's and China's influence in the region."<ref name="dna">{{cite web |url=http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_gujral-the-man-behind-the-raw-doctrine-that-set-india-behind_1771985 |title=Gujral, the man behind the raw doctrine that set India behind – India – DNA |date=December 2012 |publisher=Dnaindia.com |access-date=2 December 2012}}</ref>

Following a series of attacks throughout the 2000s, said by the Indian media and government to have originated from and been planned in Pakistan, culminating with the 2008 Mumbai attacks, the Gujral doctrine was criticised by the Indian media. Following the attack, ''India Today'' said that targeted, covert strikes against Pakistani organisations such as Lashkar-e-Taiba were a "capability that I.K. Gujral dismantled as prime minister over a decade ago will take over a year to rebuild."<ref name=indiatoday08>{{cite news |title=India"s Al Qaeda |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/cover-story/story/20081222-india-s-al-qaeda-738522-2008-12-11 |access-date=1 December 2012 |newspaper=India Today |date=22 December 2008 |author=Sandeep Unnithan |author2=Ramesh Vinayak}}</ref> The major setback of the Gujral doctrine is said to be the debilitating impact it had on the R&AW's (Research and Analysis Wing) ability to conduct operations in Pakistan. On his orders Pakistan's special operations desk of R&AW was shut down leading to major gaps in India's intelligence capabilities. Analysts have time and again blamed this as the foremost factor for India's "intelligence failure" before the Kargil War commenced. It is said that this was because of Gujral's negligence towards such repercussions and his urge to leave an imprint on Indo-Pak relations that he did this.<ref>{{cite news |title=Gujral, the man behind the raw doctrine that set India behind |url=https://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-gujral-the-man-behind-the-raw-doctrine-that-set-india-behind-1771985 |agency=DNA India |date=14 May 2020}}</ref> However, it was also praised in the media.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rediff.com/news/oct/30diplo1.htm |title=B G Verghese says the Gujral doctrine is the only thing that will work in India's relations with its neighbours |work=Rediff.com |access-date=2 December 2012}}</ref><ref name="thehindu1">{{cite news |author=Vidya Subrahmaniam |url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/ik-gujral-author-of-key-foreign-policy-doctrine-dies-at-92/article4152559.ece |title=Today's Paper News : I.K. Gujral, author of key foreign policy doctrine, dies at 92 |work=The Hindu |date=December 2012 |access-date=2 December 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.news24online.com/gujral-doctrine-a-milestone-in-indias-foreign-policy_LatestNews24_6518.aspx |title=Gujral doctrine a milestone in India's foreign policy |publisher=News24online.com |date=4 December 1919 |access-date=2 December 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160410073539/http://news24online.com/gujral-doctrine-a-milestone-in-indias-foreign-policy_latestnews24_6518.aspx/ |archive-date=10 April 2016 }}</ref>

The snap election was held in February–March 1998. Gujral contested again from Jalandhar as Janata Dal candidate with the support of the Shiromani Akali Dal. The Akali Dal, though a part of BJP-led coalition, opted to support Gujral because during his Prime Ministerial tenure, Gujral declared that the central government will share the expenses against the insurgency in Punjab during the 1980s and early 1990s, along with the state government of Punjab.<ref name="pioneer"/>

Gujral was a member of the Club de Madrid after his tenure as the Prime Minister ended.

== Global policy == Along with his brother Satish Gujral, he was one of the signatories of the Agreement to convene a convention for drafting a world constitution.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Letters from Thane Read asking Helen Keller to sign the World Constitution for world peace. 1961 |url=https://www.afb.org/HelenKellerArchive?a=d&d=A-HK01-07-B149-F04-022.1.10 |access-date=1 July 2023 |website=www.afb.org}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Letter from World Constitution Coordinating Committee to Helen, enclosing current materials |url=https://www.afb.org/HelenKellerArchive?a=d&d=A-HK01-07-B154-F05-028.1.6 |access-date=3 July 2023 |website=www.afb.org}}</ref> As a result, for the first time in human history, a World Constituent Assembly convened to draft and adopt the Constitution for the Federation of Earth.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Preparing earth constitution {{!}} Global Strategies & Solutions {{!}} The Encyclopedia of World Problems |url=http://encyclopedia.uia.org/en/strategy/193465 |access-date=15 July 2023 |website=The Encyclopedia of World Problems {{!}} Union of International Associations (UIA) |archive-date=19 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230719215501/http://encyclopedia.uia.org/en/strategy/193465 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Illness and death== [[File:The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh paying floral tributes at the mortal remains of the former Prime Minister, Shri Inder Kumar Gujral, in New Delhi on December 01, 2012.jpg|thumb|Former PM Manmohan Singh paying floral tribute to Gujral.]] [[File:The Vice President, Shri Mohd. Hamid Ansari paying floral tributes at the Samadhi of former Prime Minister, Shri Inder Kumar Gujral, on his death anniversary, in Delhi on November 30, 2013.jpg|thumb|The Vice President of India Hamid Ansari giving tribute to Gujral on his first death Anniversary (2013).]] Gujral was admitted at Medanta Hospital in Gurgaon, Haryana (part of the National Capital Region), on 19 November 2012, after being diagnosed with a lung infection.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.firstpost.com/politics/former-pm-ik-gujral-admitted-to-gurgaon-hospital-for-lung-infection-534644.html|title=Former PM, IK Gujral admitted to Gurgaon hospital for lung infection|date=25 November 2012|access-date=25 November 2012}}</ref> He had had a serious chest infection a few days before being admitted to the hospital<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.deccanherald.com/content/294296/i-k-gujral-stable-critical.html|title=I. K. Gujral stable but critical|access-date=30 November 2012}}</ref> following more than a year of dialysis.<ref name="dp" /> His health deteriorated in the hospital and was reported to be "very critical". On 27 November, he fell unconscious and his urine output system stopped working. Gujral died on 30 November 2012, four days before his 93rd birthday.<ref name="deathfirstpost">{{cite news|title=Firstpost Politics India's diplomatic politician and former PM IK Gujral passes away|url=http://www.firstpost.com/politics/indias-diplomatic-politician-and-former-pm-ik-gujral-passes-away-540767.html|newspaper=First Post (India)}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.indiatimes.com/india/former-pm-i-k-gujral-passes-away-48871.html|title=Former Prime Minister I.K.Gujral Passes Away|work=The Times of India|date=30 November 2012|access-date=30 November 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rediff.com/news/report/former-pm-ik-gujral-passes-away/20121130.htm|title=Former PM I K Gujral passes away|access-date=30 November 2012}}</ref> His body lay in state at his official residence, 5 Janpath, until noon the next day. The Government of India declared a seven-day period of state mourning and cancelled official functions until 6 December. He was given a state funeral at 15:00 on 1 December<ref name="pioneer" /> near Samata Sthal. His death was announced to parliament by Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde, following which both houses adjourned. On 3 December, condolence references were held for him.<ref name="dp" />

Reactions came from President Pranab Mukherjee,<ref name="pioneer" /> Prime Minister Manmohan Singh,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/former-prime-minister-i-k-gujral-was-a-scholar-statesman-pm-299573|title=Former Prime Minister I K Gujral was a "scholar-statesman": PM|newspaper=NDTV.com |publisher=NDTV|access-date=30 November 2012}}</ref> Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and RJD chairman Lalu Prasad Yadav.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/bihar-government-declares-three-day-mourning-on-i-k-gujral-s-death-299597|title= Bihar government declares three-day mourning on I K Gujral's death|access-date=30 November 2012}}</ref> Other immediate reactions came from MPs: Law Minister Ashwani Kumar, Veerappa Moily, Ghulam Nabi Azad. Minister for New and Renewable Energy Farooq Abdullah offered his condolences and said Gujral was "a politician, a diplomat and a humanist who would be remembered for his many accomplishments in the diplomatic and political arena;" while Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilisers Srikant Kumar Jena said Gujral had an "exceptional personality, courage and intellect" and that: "Today we feel extremely saddened on the demise of former Prime Minister Shri Inder Kumar Gujral, who was a man of exceptional courage and intellect."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.in.msn.com/national/farooq-abdullah-srikant-jena-give-tributes-to-gujral-recall-gujral-doctrine |title=Farooq Abdullah, Srikant Jena give tributes to Gujral, recall ''Gujral doctrine'' |publisher=MSN |date=31 December 1999 |access-date=2 December 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121203200113/http://news.in.msn.com/national/farooq-abdullah-srikant-jena-give-tributes-to-gujral-recall-gujral-doctrine |archive-date=3 December 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The Union Cabinet issued a statement that read: "In his death, India has lost a great patriot, a visionary leader and a freedom fighter." INC chairperson Sonia Gandhi wrote to Gujral's son, MP Naresh Gujral: "...the late leader had the ability to win goodwill and friendship across the political spectrum. It is these qualities and the genuine warmth of his personality that made him such a widely admired and respected Prime Minister of India, MP and ambassador."<ref name="thehindu1" /> Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa sent a message to Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in which he wrote: "Shri Gujral was ahead of his times in a rapidly globalising world. Sri Lanka will always remember with gratitude, Shri I K Gujral's contribution towards strengthening India-Sri Lanka relations and regional cooperation." Pakistani Prime Minister Raja Parvez Ashraf mentioned Gujral's "admirable role" in boosting India-Pakistan relations, while he also said South Asia had lost a noble and distinguished politician. Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina sent an unnamed senior leader of her Awami League party for the funeral.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.news24online.com/gujral-was-ahead-of-his-times-rajapaksa_LatestNews24_6572.aspx |title=Gujral was ahead of his times: Rajapaksa |publisher=News24online.com |access-date=2 December 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129090008/http://news24online.com/gujral-was-ahead-of-his-times-rajapaksa_LatestNews24_6572.aspx |archive-date=29 November 2014 }}</ref> Salman Khurshid and Lal Krishna Advani were amongst the dignitaries at his funeral.

== Awards and honours == thumb|Gujral on a 2020 stamp of India

=== Foreign honours === *{{flag|Russia}} **50px Order of Friendship<ref>{{cite web|title=Friendship and honour|url=https://frontline.thehindu.com/cover-story/article30159573.ece|publisher=Frontline|date=14 October 2000}}</ref>

*{{flag|Bangladesh}}: **50px Bangladesh Liberation War Honour (21 October 2012)<ref>[http://archive.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=254652 Grateful to you all: PM tells 61 friends of Liberation War from abroad] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160302033435/http://archive.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=254652 |date=2 March 2016 }} ''The Daily Star''.</ref>

==Autobiography== thumb * ''Matters of Discretion'', I. K. Gujral, Hay House, India, 519 pages, Feb. 2011. {{ISBN|978-93-8048-080-0}}. Distributors: [http://www.penguinbooksindia.com/category/Autobiography_Biography_Memoir/Matters_of_Discretion_9789380480800.aspx Penguin books, India].

==References== {{Reflist|2}}

==External links== {{Sister project links|display=Inder Kumar Gujral|wikt=no|c=Inder Kumar Gujral|commonscat=yes|n=no|q=I. K. Gujral|s=no|author=no|b=no|voy=no|v=no|d=Q248484|species=no|species_author=no|m=no|mw=no|position=right}}

* {{Citation|title=Inder Kumar Gujral|url=https://www.pmindia.gov.in/en/former_pm/shri-inder-kumar-gujral/|publisher=PMO}} * {{OL author}} * {{IMDb name|nm1588368}}

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