View source for Arun Nehru

{{Short description|Indian politician and columnist (1944–2013)}}
{{Use Indian English|date=February 2023}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2014}}
{{About|the Uttar Pradesh politician|the Tamil Nadu politician|Arun Nehru (Tamil Nadu politician)}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name           = Arun Nehru
| image          = Arun Nehru.jpg
| imagesize      = 
| office3        = [[Ministry of Commerce and Industry (India)|Minister of Commerce]] and [[Ministry of Tourism (India)|Tourism]]
| primeminister3 = [[Vishwanath Pratap Singh]]
| predecessor3   = [[Vishwanath Pratap Singh]]
| successor3     = [[Chandra Shekhar]]
| term_start3    = 6 December 1989
| term_end3      = 10 November 1990
| birth_name     = Arun Kumar Nehru
| birth_date     = {{Birth date|df=yes|1944|4|24}}
| birth_place    = [[Lucknow]], [[United Provinces (1937-50)|United Provinces]], [[British India]]
| death_date     = {{Death date and age|df=yes|2013|7|25|1944|4|24}}
| death_place    = [[Gurgaon]], [[Haryana]], [[India]]
| occupation     = {{Hlist|Politician|columnist}}
| nationality    = Indian
| networth       = 
| yearsactive    = 
| othername      = 
| spouse         = Subhadra Nehru<ref name=TOIdeath>{{cite news | url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Arun-Nehru-former-Union-minister-dies/articleshow/21346560.cms | title=Arun Nehru, former Union minister, dies | work=The Times of India| date=25 July 2013 | accessdate=26 July 2013}}</ref>
| children       = 2
| relatives      = [[Uma Nehru]] (grandmother)<br>[[Shyam Kumari Khan]] (aunt)<br>''See [[Nehru-Gandhi family]]''
| website        = 
| office         = [[Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha]]
| constituency1  = [[Rae Bareli Lok Sabha constituency|Rae Bareli, Uttar Pradesh]]
| term_start1    = 1980
| term_end1      = 1989
| predecessor1   = [[Raj Narain]]<br>[[Indira Gandhi]] (vacated)
| successor1     = [[Sheila Kaul]]
| constituency   = [[Bilhaur Lok Sabha constituency|Bilhaur, Uttar Pradesh]]
| term_start     = 1989
| term_end       = 1991
| party          = [[Indian National Congress]] (until 1989)<br>[[Janata Dal]] (from 1989)
| predecessor    = [[Jagdish Awasthi]]
| successor      = [[Shyam Bihari Misra]]
}}
'''Arun Kumar Nehru''' (24 April 1944 &ndash; 25 July 2013) was an Indian politician and columnist. He was member of the [[9th Lok Sabha]] from [[Bilhaur (Lok Sabha constituency)|Bilhaur]] as a [[Janata Dal]] leader. Earlier, he was member of the [[7th Lok Sabha|7th]] and [[8th Lok Sabha]]s from [[Rae Bareli (Lok Sabha constituency)|Rae Bareli]] on an [[Indian National Congress]] ticket.<ref name=Bio>{{cite web|url=http://164.100.47.132/LssNew/biodata_1_12/2815.htm|title=Lok Sabha Member's Bioprofile|accessdate=16 February 2012|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131017214646/http://164.100.47.132/LssNew/biodata_1_12/2815.htm|archivedate=17 October 2013|df=dmy-all}}</ref> In his political career, Nehru served in various ministerial positions, including serving as the [[Union Council of Ministers|Minister of State]] for [[Minister of Home Affairs (India)|Home Affairs]] from September 1985 to October 1986.<ref name="Bio" /> A member of the [[Nehru–Gandhi family]], Nehru was noted in the media to be the second most powerful person in the [[Government of India|Indian government]] during his tenure as Minister of State for Home Affairs, after his cousin [[Rajiv Gandhi]], who was then [[Prime Minister of India]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mitra |first=Sumit |last2=Chawla |first2=Prabhu |date=31 October 1985 |title=Arun Nehru rises to a position of power second only to PM Rajiv Gandhi himself |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/cover-story/story/19851031-arun-nehru-rises-to-a-position-of-power-second-only-to-pm-rajiv-gandhi-himself-802116-2014-01-14 |access-date=9 April 2025 |website=India Today}}</ref> Nehru was also a member of the [[V. P. Singh ministry|V. P. Singh cabinet]].<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Aiyar |first=Mani Shankar |date=21 August 2023 |title=How Bad Advice Led Rajiv Gandhi To Make Mistakes in Handling the Babri Masjid Issue |url=https://thewire.in/books/bad-advice-rajiv-gandhi-mistakes-babri-masjid |access-date=9 April 2025 |website=The Wire |language=en}}</ref>

==Early life and background==
Arun Nehru was born on 24 April 1944.<ref name=bio>{{cite web|title=Arun Nehru Bio|url=http://164.100.47.132/LssNew/biodata_1_12/2815.htm|publisher=Parliament of India|accessdate=27 July 2013|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131017214646/http://164.100.47.132/LssNew/biodata_1_12/2815.htm|archivedate=17 October 2013|df=dmy-all}}</ref> His father was Anand Kumar Nehru, a member of the [[Nehru-Gandhi family]].<ref name=bio /> He studied at [[La Martiniere Lucknow|La Martinière Boys College]], [[Lucknow]], and [[Lucknow Christian College]].<ref name=HINDUdeath>{{cite news | url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/arun-nehru-dies-aged-69/article4953480.ece | title=From the corporate world to politics | work=The Hindu| date=26 July 2013 | accessdate=26 July 2013}}</ref>

==Career==
He worked as a businessman for 17 years before entering into politics. He was president of the paint firm [[Jenson and Nicholson]] at the time when [[Prime Minister of India|Prime Minister]] [[Indira Gandhi]] persuaded him to change career.<ref name=TOIdeath/><ref name=HINDUdeath/> However, he rose to prominence after [[Sanjay Gandhi]]'s death. The business community regarded him as a decisive person and even termed him as "one-window clearance". When his cousin [[Rajiv Gandhi]] forayed into politics in 1981, Nehru became his key advisor.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Badhwar |first=Inderjit |last2=Chawla |first2=Prabhu |date=30 November 1986 |title=Mystery surrounds circumstances under which Arun Nehru was ousted from power |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/special-report/story/19861130-mystery-surrounds-circumstances-under-which-arun-nehru-was-ousted-from-power-801485-1986-11-29 |access-date=9 April 2025 |website=India Today}}</ref> Following [[Assassination of Indira Gandhi|Indira Gandhi's assassination]] in 1984, Nehru played a key role in ensuring Rajiv Gandhi's appointment as Prime Minister by persuading then-[[President of India]], [[Zail Singh]], to appoint Rajiv Gandhi as Prime Minister before he was even elected as the party leader.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Chawla |first=Prabhu |date=28 July 2013 |title=In death as in life, Arun Nehru remains the envy of many a wannabe politician |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/prabhu-chawla/column/2013/Jul/28/in-death-as-in-life-arun-nehru-remains-the-envy-of-many-a-wannabe-politician-501078.html |access-date=9 April 2025 |website=The New Indian Express}}</ref> Nehru also contributed to development of the [[Special Protection Group]].<ref name=":0" />

As a representative of the [[Indian National Congress]] (INC), Nehru was a [[Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha|Member of Parliament]] in the [[7th Lok Sabha]] (1980–84) and [[8th Lok Sabha]] (1984-89) from [[Rae Bareli Lok Sabha constituency|Rae Bareli]]. He was [[Cabinet of India|Union Minister of State]] for Energy (December 1984—September 1985,) and for [[Ministry of Home Affairs (India)|Home Affairs]] (September 1985—October 1986) in [[Tenth cabinet of India 1984|10th ministry of India]]. Later, he left the INC for [[Janata Dal]] and was elected to the [[9th Lok Sabha]] from [[Bilhaur Lok Sabha constituency|Bilhaur]] in 1989, where he was [[Ministry of Commerce and Industry (India)|Union Minister for Commerce]] and [[Ministry of Tourism (India)|Tourism]] (December–November 1990).<ref name=Bio/> Nehru was also noted in the media to be one of the most powerful members of the [[V. P. Singh ministry|V.P. Singh government]] and also helped form Singh's government.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Anshuman |first=Kumar |date=26 July 2013 |title=Arun Nehru: A business honcho who rose and fell due to his astuteness |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/arun-nehru-indira-gandhi-rajiv-gandhi-171677-2013-07-25 |access-date=9 April 2025 |website=India Today}}</ref>

He was also a member of various committees - Railway Convention Committee (1980–84), Consultative Committee, External Affairs and Science and Technology, 7th Lok Sabha; Member, Consultative Committee, External Affairs (1987–89).<ref name=Bio/>

==Controversies==
===Role in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots===
As originally reported by [[The Caravan]] Magazine, Arun Nehru reportedly played a pivotal role in the 1984 Sikh Genocide.<ref name="web.archive.org">[https://web.archive.org/web/20160322164956/https://caravanmagazine.in/vantage/1984-massacre-how-senior-leaders-congress-sanctioned-organised-violence-indira-gandhi-death The 1984 Massacre, How Senior Leaders From The Congress Sanctioned The Organised Violence That Followed Indira Gandhi’s Death, The Caravan (October 29, 2015)]</ref> The riots broke out after the [[Assassination of Indira Gandhi]]. According to then petroleum secretary Avtar Singh Gill, [[Rajiv Gandhi ]]'s "errand boy", [[Lalit Suri]] informed him at the eve of the massacre that Arun Nehru gave "clearance" for the killings in Delhi. His strategy was to "catch Sikh youth, fling a tyre over their heads, douse them with kerosene and set them on fire." He further retorted, "This will calm the anger of the Hindus".<ref name="web.archive.org"/><ref>[https://www.outlookindia.com/website/story/congress-culpability-and-kamal-nath/296968 Congress, Culpability And Kamal Nath, OutLook India (Jun 16, 2016)]</ref>

===Czech pistol case===
During his tenure as Minister of State in the Home Ministry from 1985–86, he was allegedly involved in the Czech pistol case, where a deal with the Czechoslovak firm Merkuria Foreign Trade Corp had resulted in a loss of around {{INRConvert|2.5|m}}.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://zeenews.india.com/news/nation/1988-pistol-deal-court-to-hear-arguments-on-charge-sheet_832994.html |agency=PTI |title=1988 pistol deal: Court to hear arguments on charge sheet |publisher=Zee News |date=4 March 2013 | accessdate=26 July 2013}}</ref> A 20-year investigation by the [[Central Bureau of Investigation]] (CBI) led to submission of a report in 2007. This found no incriminating evidence.<ref name=Stay>{{cite web | url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-03-23/india/37959855_1_trial-proceedings-clean-chit-pistols | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140202124019/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-03-23/india/37959855_1_trial-proceedings-clean-chit-pistols | url-status=dead | archive-date=2 February 2014 | title=SC stays trial in Rajiv-era Czech pistol purchase scam | date=23 March 2013 | work=[[The Times of India]] | accessdate=26 July 2013}}</ref> The trial court, however, rejected the CBI report and found Nehru's involvement enough to continue the proceedings.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/czech-pistol-case-court-summons-former-union-minister-arun-nehru-262080 |title=Czech pistol case: Court summons former Union Minister Arun Nehru |publisher=NDTV |date=2 September 2012 |accessdate=26 July 2013}}</ref> In March 2013, the [[Supreme Court of India|Supreme Court]] [[Stay of proceedings|stay]]ed those proceedings, based on the report.<ref name=Stay/>

== Personal life ==
Nehru married Subhadra Nehru in 1967, and they had two daughters, Radhika and Avantika.<ref name="Bio" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Bamzai |first=Kaveree |date=10 August 2013 |title=The Long Goodbye to differences in Nehru family |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/glass-house/story/20130819-sonia-gandhi-arun-nehru-priyanka-gandhi-vadra-765197-2013-08-09 |access-date=9 April 2025 |website=India Today}}</ref> He has 3 grandsons. Akhil Madan, Yash Madan and Vickram Tikkoo.<ref name="bio" /> He died on 25 July 2013 in [[Gurgaon]].<ref>{{cite news |date=25 July 2013 |title=Former union minister and Congress leader Arun Nehru passes away |url=http://www.deccanchronicle.com/130725/news-current-affairs/article/former-union-minister-and-congress-leader-arun-nehru-passes-away |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130727041144/http://www.deccanchronicle.com/130725/news-current-affairs/article/former-union-minister-and-congress-leader-arun-nehru-passes-away |archive-date=27 July 2013 |accessdate=25 July 2013 |work=Deccan Chronicle |agency=PTI}}</ref>

{{Nehru-Gandhi family tree}}

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Nehru, Arun}}
[[Category:1944 births]]
[[Category:2013 deaths]]
[[Category:Journalists from Uttar Pradesh]]
[[Category:Nehru–Gandhi family]]
[[Category:Politicians from Lucknow]]
[[Category:India MPs 1980–1984]]
[[Category:India MPs 1984–1989]]
[[Category:India MPs 1989–1991]]
[[Category:Indian National Congress politicians from Uttar Pradesh]]
[[Category:Janata Dal politicians]]
[[Category:Lok Sabha members from Uttar Pradesh]]
[[Category:People from Kanpur]]
[[Category:Bharatiya Janata Party politicians from Uttar Pradesh]]
[[Category:Commerce and industry ministers of India]]
[[Category:1984 anti-Sikh riots]]