Security policy

Rajiv authorised an extensive police and army campaign to contain terrorism in Punjab. A state of martial law existed in the Punjab state, and civil liberties, commerce and tourism were greatly disrupted.There are many accusations of human rights violations by police officials as well as by the militants during this period. It is alleged that even as the situation in Punjab came under control, the Indian government was offering arms and training to the LTTE rebels fighting the government of Sri Lanka. The IndoSri Lanka Peace Accord was signed by Rajiv Gandhi and the Sri Lankan President J. R. Jayewardene, in Colombo on 29 July 1987. The very next day, on 30 July 1987, Rajiv Gandhi was assaulted on the head with a rifle butt by a young Sinhalese naval cadet named Vijayamunige Rohana de Silva,while receiving the honour guard. The intended assault on the back of Rajiv Gandhis head glanced off his shoulder and it was captured in news crew photographs and video.With his speech while addressing the Joint Session of the US Congress and India, he said, India is an old country, but a young nation; and like the young everywhere, we are impatient. I am young and I too have a dream. I dream of an India,strong, independent, selfreliant and in the forefront of the front ranks of the nations of the world in the service of mankind.