Tributes to Rajiv Gandhi on 17th death anniversary

New Delhi, May 21 (UNI) The nation today paid rich tributes to the late former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi on his 17th death anniversary.

In the capital, President Pratibha Patil, Vice President Mohd Hamid Ansari, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress President Sonia Gandhi paid homage to the late former Prime Minister at his samadhi Vir Bhoomi.

Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Vadra also paid their respects to their father at Vir Bhoomi. Several Union Ministers including Shivraj Patil and A K Antony were present on the occasion.

The day is being observed as 'Anti-Terrorism Day'.

On this occasion, the Mahila Congress organised a blood donation camp at the AICC headquarters here.

Undeterred by incessant rains, a large number of party workers and people from all walks of life came out to pay tributes at the samadhi.

To mark the 17th death anniversary of the former Prime Minister, the architect of the IT revolution and modern development in India, the Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee (DPCC) organised a function at Rajiv Bhawan here where thousands of Congress workers and senior leaders of the Congress party paid homage to the late leader.

Speaking on the occasion, DPCC president Jai Prakash Agarwal, MP, said Rajiv Gandhi, with his foresight and imagination, took India to the heights of a modern world power, and gave a new direction and hope to the youth and women of the country, for which the country would be eternally grateful to him.

Besides Mr Agarwal, others who paid homage to Mr Rajiv Gandhi were MP Sajjan Kumar, Delhi Government Minister Yoganand Shastri, DPCC office-bearers AICC secretary Alka Lamba, MLAs Kunwar Karan Singh, Mr Bhisham Sharma, Mr Ramakant Goswami, Mr Amrish Gautam and Dr Bijender Singh, former MP Ch. Tarif Singh, J P Goel, Mr Purshottam Goel, Municipal Councillors Panna Lal Kherwal, Ms Beena Dhakholia and Mr Surender Prakash, all the district and block presidents, and a large number of workers of the Youth Congress, NSUI, Mahila Congress and Seva Dal.

On the occasion, a 30-minute documentary on the life of Mr Rajiv Gandhi was screened at the Rajiv Bhawan hall.

Mr Jai Prakash Agarwal said Rajiv Gandhi will always be remembered for bringing computer revolution in the country, giving voting rights to those of 18 years from the earlier age limite of 21 and 33 per cent reservation for women through the Panchayati Raj.

It was on this day in 1991, that Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated by a woman LTTE suicide bomber while campaigning for the general elections.

UNI AR AKJ NS2831