Congress leaders pay tributes to former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi on his death anniversary

पापा,

आपके सपने, मेरे सपने,
आपकी आकांक्षाएं, मेरी ज़िम्मेदारियां।

आपकी यादें, आज और हमेशा, दिल में सदा। pic.twitter.com/lT8M7sk7dS

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) May 21, 2024

India’s Prime Minister between 1984 and 1989, Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated by LTTE cadres at Sriperumbudur in Tamil Nadu in 1991 during an election campaign.

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‘Prepared India for the 21st century’

Kharge said that Rajiv Gandhi’s courageous interventions prepared India for the 21st century.

After paying tributes, Kharge quoted Rajiv Gandhi on X, “India is an old country but a young nation… I dream of India — strong, independent, self-reliant and in the front rank of the nations of the world, in the service of mankind.”

“India is an old country but a young nation… I dream of India — strong, independent, self-reliant and in the front rank of the nations of the world, in the service of mankind.”

~ Rajiv Gandhi

Rajiv Gandhi’s courageous interventions prepared India for the 21st Century.… pic.twitter.com/h2PVs54pXE

— Mallikarjun Kharge (@kharge) May 21, 2024

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said Rajiv Gandhi’s political life was very short but “hugely impactful” and he left behind numerous legacies, including the 1991 manifesto which promised liberalisation.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also paid tributes to the former prime minister.

“On his death anniversary, my tributes to our former PM Shri Rajiv Gandhi Ji,” Modi said in a post on X.

On his death anniversary, my tributes to our former PM Shri Rajiv Gandhi Ji.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 21, 2024

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‘Left behind numerous legacies’

Ramesh remembered the contributions made by Rajiv Gandhi on his death anniversary.

“His political life was very short but hugely impactful. He left behind numerous legacies that we take for granted now,” he said.

“These include the right of 18-year-olds to vote; Constitutional empowerment of panchayats and nagarpalikas, including reservations for women in elections to them; peace in Assam, Mizoram, Tripura and Punjab; India’s entry into the IT, computer and telecom era as a major power; the use of science & technology to address societal concerns and challenges; strengthening of India’s space and nuclear programmes. And much more,” he said.

One legacy, however, that is often overlooked is the Congress’ 1991 manifesto that was released by him on April 15, 1991 and on which he had spent long hours personally over a period of ten days, Ramesh said.

“Only one newspaper, The Telegraph, had captured its significance reflected in its headline the next day. The headline proved to be prophetic,” the Congress said and shared a screenshot of the newspaper headline which read “Congress promises liberalisation drive” and has a picture of Rajiv Gandhi releasing the manifesto.

“On 23 July, 1991, at a meeting of the Congress Working Committee, Dr Manmohan Singh as Finance Minister quoted extensively from this manifesto – the last political will and testament of Rajiv Gandhi as it were -to justify the dramatic changes that the Narasimha Rao government was bringing about in economic policy,” Ramesh said.

33 years ago, Rajiv Gandhi was martyred. His political life was very short but hugely impactful. He left behind numerous legacies that we take for granted now. These include the right of 18 year olds to vote; Constitutional empowerment of panchayats and nagarpalikas including… pic.twitter.com/7NilnPINNX

— Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) May 21, 2024

(Edited by Muhammed Fazil)