Shimla (Himachal Pradesh) [India], August 20 (ANI): Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu along with his cabinet colleagues and the state Congress president, on Tuesday paid heartfelt tribute to former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi on his 80th birth anniversary.
CM Sukhvinder Sukhu paid homage to former PM Rajiv Gandhi by offering floral tributes at his statue at Rajiv Chowk in Chhota Shimla. The day is also being observed as Sadbhavana Diwas across the State.
The Himachal CM also administered the Sadbhavana Diwas pledge to the officers and officials of HP Secretariat on the occasion.
CM Sukhu said that during his tenure as the Prime Minister, Rajiv Gandhi spearheaded numerous reforms and initiatives to bring positive change in the mindset of the people and the society.
“When Rajiv Gandhi was Prime Minister, I was president of the National Students’ Union of India (NSUI). On the demand of the NSUI, Rajiv Gandhi granted the right to vote to the youth by reducing the age to vote from 21 years to 18 years, ensuring active participation of youth in the democratic process. It was the greatest achievement of his tenure,” the Himachal CM said.
He further said that in the modern era, India was the leading country in the entire world in the IT sector due to the efforts and vision of Rajiv Gandhi. “When America declined the request to provide supercomputers to India, then he took decisive steps to ignite an IT revolution in the country. He said that Rajiv Gandhi also voiced for the rights of women in the democratic process and granted 33 percent reservation to women in Panchayati Raj Institutions. He said that senior Congress leader Sonia Gandhi also advocates for 33 percent reservation to women in Vidhan Sabha and Parliament,” he said.
Health Minister Dr. (Col.) Dhani Ram Shandil, Education Minister Rohit Thakur, Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee Chief Pratibha Singh, Chief Parliamentary Secretary Mohan Lal Brakta and Sanjay Awasthy, Chairman of the HP Buildings and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board Nardev Kanwar, Vice-Chairman HIMUDA Yashwant Chhajta, Mayor MC Shimla Surender Chauhan, Deputy Mayor Uma Kaushal, Councilors of MC Shimla, and Chief Minister’s OSD Ritesh Kaprate were also present on the occasion.
Earlier in the day, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi paid tribute to his father and former PM Rajiv Gandhi on his birth anniversary and emphasised that he will fulfil Rajiv Gandhi’s dreams for India taking his memories with him.
“A compassionate personality, an epitome of camaraderie and goodwill… Papa, your teachings are my inspiration, and your dreams for India are my own – I will fulfil them, taking your memories with me,” the Congress MP said in a post on X.
Born on August 20, 1944, Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated by a Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) suicide bomber during an election rally in Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu, on May 21, 1991. He took over the charge of the Congress in 1984, following the assassination of his mother and then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. He became India’s youngest Prime Minister at the age of 40. (ANI)
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