Leaders cutting across party lines paid rich tributes to former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi on Friday on his 77th birth anniversary.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted: “Tributes to our former PM Shri Rajiv Gandhi Ji on his birth anniversary.”
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Congress President Sonia Gandhi, Leader of Congress in Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury and others also paid floral tributes to Rajiv Gandhi at a function held at the Central Hall of Parliament.
After paying floral tributes to the former Prime Minister at the Central Hall of Parliament, the Defence Minister tweeted, “Paid tributes to former Prime Minister of India, Rajiv Gandhi ji on his birth anniversary at Parliament House today.”
In a series of tweets, Chowdhury, leader of the Congress party in Lok Sabha, said, “Today is the 77th birth anniversary of great visionary leader late Rajiv Gandhi, being celebrated across the country, who espoused the philosophy of ‘Power to the People’, instead of power to the party.”
“Who gave birth to the Computer Revolution which is ‘Digital India’ in its new incarnation, and so on, I pay my tribute to my departed leader, Rajiv JI,” Chowdhury said.
Among others who paid floral tributes were several sitting and former MPs and former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi.
Rahul said Rajiv Gandhi’s farsighted vision helped create modern India. “He was a wonderful father, a compassionate and loving human being,” Rahul said after paying tribute to the former prime minister at Veer Bhumi.
“Rajiv Gandhi ji was a man with tremendous vision, whose farsighted policies helped build modern India,” the former Congress chief said in a Facebook post.
Senior Congress leaders Pawan Kumar Bansal, K C Venugopal and Indian Youth Congress (IYC) chief Srinivas B V were among those who visited Vir Bhumi along with Rahul Gandhi.
Rahul Gandhi inaugurated a photo-exhibition dedicated to Rajiv Gandhi, and it was organised by the Idian Youth Congress. He also unveiled a bust of the former prime minister at the IYC headquarters.
Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi posted a picture of hers with Rajiv Gandhi when she was a child along with a note which read, “The brave do not fall silent before injustice, they speak up for what is right and good, they do not cower when it is dark, they stand strong, they spread the light of truth across skies blackened by deceit. The brave never die.”
The Congress, from its official Twitter handle, tweeted, “India’s youngest Prime Minister. The architect of 21st Century India. The visionary, the pioneer, the patriot. Today we pay homage to Bharat Ratna, Rajiv Gandhi and celebrate his immense contributions to the nation.”
Congress’ chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala also hailed the former prime minister and recalled his contribution to the country.
Chief ministers of Congress-ruled states Amarinder Singh (Punjab), Ashok Gehlot (Rajasthan) and Bhupesh Baghel (Chhattisgarh) paid rich tributes to the former prime minister.
Senior Congress leader Kapil Sibal also remembered Rajiv Gandhi on his birth anniversary and said he was delighted that party chief Sonia Gandhi is set to meet Opposition leaders on this day to discuss issues that matter.
Born in 1944, Rajiv Gandhi was prime minister from 1984 to 1989. He was assassinated in 1991.
The Secretary-General of Lok Sabha, Utpal Kumar Singh, also paid floral tributes. The portrait of Rajiv Gandhi was unveiled by the then President of India, Dr. Shankar Dayal Sharma, in the Central Hall of Parliament House on August 20, 1993.