Rajiv remembered on 16th death anniversary

Mumbai, May 21 (UNI) Rich tributes were paid to former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi on his 16th death anniversary with Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh administering the pledge to fight violence and terrorism in the city.

Mr Deshmukh administered the pledge to senior bureaucrats, officers and staff of Mantralaya in the presence of Chief Secretary Johnny Joseph.

Earlier, Mr Deshmukh garlanded the life-size statue of the late leader at Cooperage grounds near Mantralaya. Union Petroleum Minister Murli Deora, Mumbai Congress president Gurudas Kamat, South Mumbai MP Milind Deora, social justice minister Chandrakant Handore, ministers of state Baba Siddique and Suresh Shetty, leader of opposition in the BMC Rajhans Singh were also present on the occasion.

Free wheelchairs were distributed to handicapped by Chief Minister Deshmukh to mark the occasion.

At Raj Bhavan, Mr Vinayak Dalvi, Deputy secretary (education) to the Governor administered anti-terrorism and anti-violence pledge to the staff and employees as well as the jawans of State Reserve Police (SRP).

At the Mumbai Congress office, Mr Kamat administered the anti-terrorism pledge to city unit officebearers and workers.

Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) organised an 'anti-terrorism' rally to mark the occasion. The rally began at 1100 hrs from Tilak Bhavan, the party headquarters in central Mumbai and concluded at 1200 hrs at 'Gandhi Bhavan', the Congress office in south Mumbai. The participants in the rally were welcomed by MPCC President Prabha Rau.

MPCC secretary Yogesh Dube, one of the participants in the rally handed over the 'Rajiv Jyot' to Ms Rau, who also administered the anti-terrorism pledge.

Ms Rau paid floral tributes to the portrait of the late leader and recalled his contributions to the development of the nation.

UNI