Rich tributes paid to Sunil Dutt on 2nd death anniversary

Mumbai, May 25 (UNI) Rich tributes were paid to noted actor and the Congress leader Sunil Dutt on his second death anniversary here today.

Information and Broadcasting Minister Priyaranjan Dasmunsi, Power Minister Sushilkumar Shinde, AICC general secretaries Ashok Gehlot, Mohsina Kidwai, Mukul Wasnik, Minister of State in the PMO Prithviraj Chavan, Maharashtra Congress President Prabha Rau offered floral tributes to the late leader and spoke about his contribution to the party and development work for the upliftment of the poor.

The Speakers recalled their close associations with late Mr Dutt and said he symbolised the ideology of the Congress of secularism and upliftment of the poor and the needy. ''His social work enabled him to win the Lok Sabha elections for five consecutive times,'' they said.

To mark the second death anniversary, Priya Dutt who now represents the Mumbai North West parliamentary constituency, organised a day-long workers' convention of the district Congress. AICC Chief Sonia Gandhi lauded the effort of Ms Dutt and also read out a message on the occasion.

The Speakers advised the party workers to imbibe Dutt Saab's ideals of promoting peace and secularism. ''Congress shuns casteism and religious bias,'' they added.

Speaking on the occasion, Priya said she was deeply influenced by her father in the public life. ''But, we are two different individuals and have different working styles. My father worked with honesty and sincerity for the Congress and promoted peace and secularism. His constituency was the entire country,'' she added.

A two-minute film on the life and times of Sunil Dutt was also screened on the occasion.

Actor Sanjay Dutt, who had to be present at the TADA court, which was delivering its judgement in the 1993 Mumbai Bomb Blasts case, attended the afternoon session to pay tributes to his late father.

UNI