NEW DELHI: Congress Parliamentary Party (CPP) chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and other party leaders on Sunday attended the 25th Rajiv Gandhi National Sadbhavana Award event in Delhi.
The event was held at Jawahar Bhawan in Delhi on the occasion of the former PM’s 79th birth anniversary.
Speaking on occasion, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge praised the former PM and said that Rajiv Gandhi has always worked for the development of all sections of society.
“Today, several people from different ideologies try to discredit Rajiv Gandhi’s achievements… Rajiv Gandhi’s success cannot be hidden for too long. In 1984, under Rajiv Gandhi, Congress got the highest majority of 401 seats in Lok Sabha. Rajiv Gandhi always worked for the development of all sections of society,” Kharge said.
Rajiv Gandhi made sure that reservation was provided for women in Panchayats and Municipal Corporations, said Sonia Gandhi while speaking at the event.
“Former PM Rajiv Gandhi always worked for strengthening the women in our country. He made sure that reservation was provided for women in Panchayats and Municipal Corporations. If today, over 15 lakh elected women representatives are there in rural and urban bodies, it is only because of Rajiv Gandhi’s hard work and far-sightedness,” she said.
Earlier today, Sonia Gandhi paid floral tribute to the former Prime Minister on his 79th birth anniversary at ‘Veer Bhumi’ in Delhi
Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Robert Vadra and Congress National President Mallikarjun Kharge, who arrived soon after Sonia Gandhi, also paid homage to the former Prime Minister at his memorial this morning.
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu was also seen with senior Priyanka Gandhi at Veer Bhoomi where senior Congress leaders assembled to pay tributes to the former PM.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi who is on a four-day tour to Ladakh remembered his father and former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi.
“Papa, the dreams you had for India are shown from these priceless memories. Your mark is my way – understanding the struggles and dreams of every Indian, listening to the voice of Mother India,” he said in a post on ‘X’ formally Twitter.
Earlier yesterday Congress leader Rahul Gandhi embarked on a bike ride to Pangong Lake in Ladakh to celebrate his father and former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi’s birthday on August 20.
Rajiv Gandhi took over the charge of the Congress in 1984 following the assassination of his mother and then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.
He became India’s youngest Prime Minister at the age of 40 when he assumed office in October 1984. He served as the Prime Minister of India till December 2, 1989.
Born on August 20 in 1944, Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated by a Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) suicide bomber during an election rally in Sriperumbudur in Tamil Nadu on May 21, 1991. (ANI)