New Delhi: Former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi was on Thursday remembered and paid tribute by various political leaders paying homage to his memorial.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday was among the ones who paid tributes to former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi on his 24th death anniversary.
“Paying tributes to former Prime Minister Shri Rajiv Gandhi on his death anniversary,” Modi tweeted. Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated on this day in 1991 in Sriperumbudur in Tamil Nadu by a suicide bomber when he was on election campaign.
West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress chairperson Mamata Banerjee on Thursday paid tributes to former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi on his 24th death anniversary.
“Fondly remembering Rajiv Gandhiji on the day he left us. Gone but not forgotten,” tweeted Banerjee.
Banerjee, who started her political career in the Congress as a youth leader, was considered to be politically close to Gandhi and his family.
Rajiv, who was the youngest Prime Minister of India, was assassinated on May 21, 1991 at Sriperumbudur in Tamil Nadu during a poll campaign.
The late leader’s wife and Congress President Sonia Gandhi accompanied by son and party Vice President Rahul Gandhi, daughter Priyanka Gandhi and son-in-law Robert Vadra offered flowers at his memorial ‘Vir Bhumi’ here. Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and a number of party leaders including PC Chacko, Oscar Farnandes, Gulam Nabi Azad, Ajay Maken were among those who also paid tributes to the leader. The programme included Morning Raga recital by Pt Ripesh Mishra and Pt Rajneesh Mishra.
It was followed by playing of an audio excerpt of a speech delivered by Rajiv Gandhi calling upon people for “building bridges, sinking differences and fighting for freedom” and talking about “awareness of younger generation.” After conclusion of the programme at Vir Bhumi, the Gandhi family reached Shakti Sthal, memorial of late Indira Gandhi, to pay their homage.
Returning from there, Rahul with folded hands greeted a large crowd of party workers who hailed late Rajiv And Indira. Rajiv Gandhi, who was the sixth and youngest PM of India, was assassinated on May 21, 1991 at Sriperumbudur in Tamil Nadu during a poll campaign.
The 24th death anniversary of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi was observed as Anti-Terrorism Day at the Raj Bhavan here . Secretary to the Governor Vikas Chandra Rastogi administered ‘Anti-Terrorism Day Pledge’ to the staff and officers of Raj Bhavan and to the police personnel and Public Works staff posted there.
On the occasion, the officers and staff expressed the resolve of the nation ‘to oppose all forms of terrorism and violence’ and to promote ‘peace, social harmony and understanding’ among fellow citizens. Comptroller of Governor’s Households Vasant Saluke and other senior officers were present on the occasion.
President Pranab Mukherjee and Vice President Hamid Ansari were conspicuous by their absence at the death anniversary . The President and the Vice President were keen to attend the programme at Vir Bhumi to pay homage to late Rajiv Gandhi.
“But the organisers of the programme All India Congress Committee (AICC) decided to urge both the President and the Vice President to attend only the birth anniversary function of Rajiv Gandhi and not his death anniversary programme,” a senior Congress leader said.(PTI)
