opposition parties felt that it was an attempt to bypass them and reduce their powers. In the economic sphere too, Rajiv Gandhi attempted to chart a different course. His government’s first budget in 1985 moved towards a more liberalised system by removing some of the checks and controls that were in place. Rajiv Gandhi was also convinced that India needed to adapt itself to the new technologies emerging in the world, especially computer and telecommunication technologies. He initiated what is called the ‘telecom revolution’ in India which spread the network of telephonic communication in the country using satellite technology.
After the horrors of partition, there had been some attempt to keep religion away from the active and formal political sphere.This period, however, saw the emergence of new kind of political mobilisation which had communal overtones. This use of religion for political purposes and the partisan role of the government was going lead to disastrous consequences which would raise question marks on the issue of national unity and integrity.
In 1985, the Supreme Court passed a judgement on a case filed by Shah Bano who had been divorced by her husband ordering that she should be paid maintenance