Congress pay tribute to Rajiv Gandhi on death anniversary

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress leader Sonia Gandhi, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi, besides several other Congress leaders on Thursday paid tributes to former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi on his death anniversary. He was born on August 20, 1944, in Mumbai and was assassinated in Sriperumbudur in Tamil Nadu on May 21, 1991.

“Tributes to former Prime Minister Shri Rajiv Gandhi Ji on his death anniversary,” Modi said in a post on social media. Rajiv Gandhi served as India’s prime minister from October 31, 1984, to December 2, 1989.

Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge paid tributes to the former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi on his 35th death anniversary, and recalled the various initiatives undertaken by him for the country’s progress.

Besides members of the Gandhi family, many former chief ministers and union ministers paid their tributes to Rajiv Gandhi at his memorial Veer Bhumi here.

Paying tribute, former Congress president Rahul Gandhi sad his father’s teachings and values will always remain with him.

“Papa, I will fully shoulder the responsibility of realising the dream of a skilled, prosperous, and strong India that you envisioned,” Rahul Gandhi said in a post on social media.. “Your teachings, your values, and your memories will always remain with me,” he said.

After paying floral tributes to the former prime minister, Congress chief Kharge recalled Rajiv Gandhi’s words: “India is an old country but a young nation. I dream of India — strong, independent, self-reliant and in the front rank of the nations of the world, in the service of mankind”. In a post on social media, Kharge said, “On his martyrdom day, we pay our deepest respects to Former Prime Minister and Bharat Ratna Rajiv Gandhi, a remarkable son of India who inspired hope and aspiration in millions across the nation.”

With vision, courage, and a deep belief in India’s future, he laid the foundations for the country’s journey into the twenty-first century, Kharge recalled.

“His transformative initiatives included lowering the voting age to eighteen, empowering local self-governance through Panchayati Raj, ushering in the telecom and information technology revolution, advancing computerisation, securing important peace accords, launching the Universal Immunisation Programme, and introducing a forward-looking education policy centred on inclusive learning. “His legacy continues to shape modern India and remains a source of inspiration for generations,” the Congress chief said in a post on social media.

Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and K C Venugopal, former chief ministers Bhupinder Singh Hooda and Ashok Gehlot, besides several former union ministers were present at his memorial Veer Bhumi.

Several Congress leaders also remembered Rajiv Gandhi as the architect of modern India.