Congress leaders pay tribute to Rajiv Gandhi

New Delhi: Congress leaders on Sunday paid tributes to former Prime Minister and Bharat Ratna Rajiv Gandhi on his 32nd death anniversary, recalling his contributions to the country. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, who paid floral tributes to the former Prime Minister at Veer Bhoomi here, took to Twitter and wrote, “Rajiv Gandhi was a great son of India. Through multiple interventions such as lowering of voting age, strengthening Panchayati Raj, Telecom and IT revolution, and sustained peace accords - he transformed India, propelling it in 21st century. Our humble homage on his martyrdom day.”

Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said, “One of the last major accomplishments of Rajiv Gandhi before his assassination on this day, 32 years ago, was the finalisation of the Congress party’s manifesto for the 1991 Lok Sabha elections. He spent many hours on it. In July 1991, when Dr Manmohan Singh as FM was criticised for ushering in economic reforms, he would quote frequently from this manifesto, which in many ways bore Rajiv Gandhi’s personal imprint.”

Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, who is the daughter of Rajiv Gandhi, also paid floral tributes at the Veer Bhoomi here. Earlier in the day, Congress Parliamentary Party (CPP) chairperson Sonia Gandhi, party leader Rahul Gandhi paid floral tributes to the former Prime Minister at Veer Bhoomi here.