Rahul Gandhi honours Rajiv Gandhi on his birth anniversary: 'Papa, your teachings are my inspiration...'
Rajiv Gandhi birth anniversary: On Tuesday, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi paid heartfelt tribute to his father, former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, on his birth anniversary. Rahul Gandhi highlighted his father's enduring impact on him and reaffirmed his commitment to realising Rajiv Gandhi's vision for India.
In a touching post on X, Rahul Gandhi described his father as a "compassionate personality" and an "epitome of camaraderie and goodwill." He emphasised that Rajiv Gandhi's teachings are a major source of inspiration for him, stating, "Papa, your teachings are my inspiration, and your dreams for India are my own. I will fulfil them, taking your memories with me."
"Papa, your teachings are my inspiration..." Rahul Gandhi on former PM Rajiv Gandhi's birth anniversary
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Rahul Gandhi also visited Veer Bhumi, where he paid floral tributes to his late father.
Congress Rajya Sabha MP Jairam Ramesh also commemorated Rajiv Gandhi's significant contributions to India's political and technological advancement. In a post on X, Ramesh highlighted Rajiv Gandhi's impactful role in shaping the country's economic and technological policies.
"Today is Rajiv Gandhi@80. His was a short but very consequential political life," Ramesh said. He praised Rajiv Gandhi's role in the 1985 Budget, which introduced a new economic policy approach, and his influential manifesto for the 1991 Lok Sabha Elections, which laid the groundwork for the economic reforms initiated by P.V. Narasimha Rao and Dr. Manmohan Singh.
Ramesh acknowledged Rajiv Gandhi's statesmanship, noting his efforts in peace accords in regions like Assam, Punjab, Mizoram, and Tripura. He praised Rajiv Gandhi for prioritizing national interests and for his vision of using science and technology for societal benefit.
Under Rajiv Gandhi's leadership, significant advancements were made, including improvements in water supply, immunisation, literacy, and telecommunications. Ramesh highlighted the establishment of C-DAC and financial institutions like the National Housing Bank and the Small Industries Development Bank of India. The New Education Policy of 1986, which led to the creation of Navodaya Vidyalayas and the reduction of the voting age to 18, also bore Rajiv Gandhi's imprint.
Rajiv Gandhi became India's youngest Prime Minister at 40, following the assassination of his mother, Indira Gandhi, in 1984. He was born on August 20, 1944, and was tragically assassinated by a Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) suicide bomber during an election rally in Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu, on May 21, 1991.
- With inputs from agencies
