The nation came together on Sunday to pay homage to the former Prime Minister and Bharat Ratna awardee, Rajiv Gandhi, on the occasion of his 32nd death anniversary.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is attending the G7 Summit in Japan, expressed his respects in a tweet, stating, “I pay tributes to former PM Rajiv Gandhi Ji on his death anniversary.”
Leading the tribute at Veer Bhoomi in New Delhi, Congress Parliamentary Party (CPP) chairperson Sonia Gandhi, accompanied by party leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, laid floral wreaths at the memorial. Remembering Rajiv Gandhi’s immense contributions to the nation, they honored his transformative legacy.
Rajiv Gandhi, born on August 20, 1944, represented the Amethi parliamentary constituency in Uttar Pradesh on four occasions. Serving as the sixth Prime Minister of India from 1984 to 1989, he assumed office following the tragic assassination of his mother, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, in 1984. His tenure witnessed numerous landmark achievements that reshaped the country’s course.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge paid his respects at the memorial and praised Rajiv Gandhi’s transformative leadership. He took to Twitter, stating, “Rajiv Gandhi was a great son of India. Through multiple interventions such as lowering the voting age, strengthening Panchayati Raj, Telecom and IT revolution, and sustaining peace accords – he transformed India, propelling it into the 21st century. Our humble homage on his martyrdom day.”
Paying her respects, Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Rajiv Gandhi’s daughter, shared poignant lines from the poem “Iss Paar, Uss Paar” by renowned author Harivansh Rai Bachchan, in remembrance of her father. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, along with Sonia Gandhi, posted a heartfelt picture of Rajiv Gandhi on her Twitter account.
Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh highlighted one of Rajiv Gandhi’s last significant accomplishments before his untimely demise. Ramesh emphasized that the former Prime Minister played a crucial role in finalizing the Congress party’s manifesto for the 1991 Lok Sabha elections, which bore his personal imprint. He further commended Rajiv Gandhi’s efforts in ushering India into the IT age by attracting major companies like GE and Texas Instruments, which kick-started the nation’s software exports.
Additionally, Ramesh recognized Rajiv Gandhi’s pioneering endeavors in granting constitutional status to Panchayats and Nagarpalikas, bringing about a truly transformational change.
Rajiv Gandhi’s tragic demise occurred on May 21, 1991, when he was assassinated by a Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) suicide bomber during an election rally in Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu. His cremation took place at Veer Bhoomi, a memorial site located on the banks of the river Yamuna. In honor of his unwavering commitment to counter-terrorism, the nation observes his death anniversary as National Anti-Terrorism Day.
Rajiv Gandhi’s extraordinary tenure as the youngest Prime Minister of India, assuming office at the age of 40, left an indomitable imprint on the nation’s trajectory. Today, as the country remembers and pays tribute to Rajiv Gandhi, his transformative contributions to India’s progress and his enduring legacy continue to inspire generations. (Edited)