(i) Assam Oil Blockade (1980) :

The Assam Movement (1979-1985) led by the All Assam Students Union (AASU) and All Assam Gana Sangram Parishad (AAGSP) was against the illegal immigrants in Assam. There were a series of protests to compel the government to identify and expel illegal immigrants (mostly Bangladeshi) and to provide safeguards to the indigenous Assamese. Some of the protests were violent e.g., the Nellie massacre (1983). On 15th August 1985, the Assam Accord was signed between the Rajiv Gandhi Government and leaders of the Assam movement by which all migrants who had entered the State prior to January 1, 1966 were accepted.

The Oil Blockade was part of the Assam agitation. Crude oil from Assam was pumped to a refinery at Barauni (Bihari). However, AASU protested and blockaded oil supply in 1980. A committee was appointed to suggest a new location for refinery within Assam. They suggested Bongaigaon near West Bengal border. The oil blockade resulted in huge losses to the petroleum industry.

(ii) Assassination of Rajiv Gandhi (1991) : 

Assassination of Rajiv Gandhi, former Prime Minister of India (1984-1989) occurred as a result of suicide bombing in Sriperumbudur, Chennai on 21st May 1991. It was carried out by a member of LTTE (Sri Lanka) known as Thenmozhi Rajaratnam (Dhanu) At least 14 others were killed in the explosion of the RDX laden belt by Dhanu. The assassination was attributed to LTTE being antagonised by Mr. Rajiv Gandhi’s sending of Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) to Sri Lanka and the signing of the Indo-Sri Lanka Peace Accord with President J. Jayewardene in 1987.