Technology – Congress Leaders Remember Rajiv Gandhi on 35th Death Anniversary
Technology – Senior Congress leaders and members of the Gandhi family gathered at Vir Bhumi in New Delhi on Thursday to pay tribute to former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi on his 35th death anniversary. The memorial ceremony was attended by Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, and Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra along with her children, Miraya and Raihan Vadra.
Several senior party figures, including Ashok Gehlot, P. Chidambaram, Bhupinder Singh Hooda and Mukul Wasnik, also visited the memorial site to offer floral tributes and remember the late leader’s contribution to the country.
Congress Leaders Recall Rajiv Gandhi’s Vision
In a message shared on X, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge highlighted Rajiv Gandhi’s role in shaping India’s development during the 1980s. He described the former Prime Minister as a forward-looking leader whose policies influenced the country’s political and technological transformation.
Kharge said Rajiv Gandhi introduced several reforms that had a lasting impact on governance and society. Among the initiatives mentioned were reducing the voting age from 21 to 18 years, strengthening Panchayati Raj institutions, encouraging the growth of information technology and telecommunications, and promoting modern education policies focused on inclusion and progress.
He also referred to Rajiv Gandhi’s efforts in advancing computerisation and implementing welfare-oriented programmes such as the Universal Immunisation Programme. According to Kharge, these measures helped lay the foundation for India’s transition into a modern economy and continue to influence the country’s development journey.
Tribute Ceremony at Vir Bhumi
The remembrance event at Vir Bhumi witnessed the participation of party workers and supporters alongside senior Congress leaders. Floral tributes were offered as leaders reflected on Rajiv Gandhi’s political journey and his influence on national politics.
Speaking to reporters at the memorial site, former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda said Rajiv Gandhi had emerged as a symbol of aspiration for young Indians during his tenure. Hooda noted that the former Prime Minister focused on youth empowerment and national development during a period of rapid change in global politics and technology.
He also spoke about the sacrifices made by members of the Nehru-Gandhi family over several decades. According to Hooda, leaders from the family dedicated themselves to public service and national interests rather than personal gain.
Rajiv Gandhi’s Focus on Youth and Technology
Senior Congress leader Ashok Gehlot also remembered Rajiv Gandhi’s emphasis on preparing India for the future. He said the former Prime Minister was among the first national leaders to openly discuss the importance of the 21st century and the need for India to modernise in areas such as science and technology.
Gehlot stated that Rajiv Gandhi strongly believed young people would play a decisive role in shaping India’s future. He recalled that the decision to lower the voting age to 18 faced criticism at the time, but Rajiv Gandhi remained committed to increasing youth participation in democracy.
The Congress leader added that Rajiv Gandhi encouraged technological advancement and believed that access to education, innovation and communication would help India compete globally. He also said younger generations should be made aware of the former Prime Minister’s contribution to the country’s progress.
Rajiv Gandhi’s Political Journey
Rajiv Gandhi became Prime Minister in October 1984 following the assassination of his mother, former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. At the age of 40, he became the youngest person to hold the office in India.
During his tenure, which continued until December 1989, he introduced several administrative and technological reforms that changed the direction of the country’s development policies. His government focused on expanding telecommunications, encouraging computer technology and improving local governance systems.
Born on August 20, 1944, Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated on May 21, 1991, during an election campaign rally in Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu. He was killed in a suicide bombing carried out by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).