Tribute to Rajiv Gandhi on 66th birth anniversary

New Delhi, Aug 20: A slew of programmes have been scheduled for the day across India to pay homage to former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi on his 66th birth anniversary.

Rajiv Gandhi's birth anniversary is observed as 'Sadbhavana Diwas' to promote national integration and communal harmony among people of all religions, languages.

While President Pratibha Patil, Vice President Hamid Ansari, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh paid floral tribute to the former prime minister, Congress President Sonia Gandhi along with her son and MP Rahul Gandhi, as has always been the family tradition, reached 'Vir Bhumi' to pay their tributes.

Born on 20 Aug, 1944, Rajiv Gandhi was the elder son of Indira Gandhi and Feroze Gandhi. He became the seventh and the youngest PM when he took office on 31 Oct, 1984 at the age of 40 after his mother's death.

He served in office till 2 Dec, 1989, after which he was assassinated on May 21, 1991 at Sriperumbudur in Tamil Nadu.

OneIndia News