On Tuesday, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi paid tribute to his father, former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, on his birth anniversary, vowing to carry forward his father’s vision for India. “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 fulfill them, taking your memories with me,” Rahul Gandhi posted on X (formerly Twitter). He also visited Veer Bhumi to offer floral tributes to Rajiv Gandhi.
Congress Rajya Sabha MP Jairam Ramesh also honored Rajiv Gandhi’s contributions to India’s political and technological advancements. In a post on X, Ramesh highlighted Rajiv Gandhi’s role in shaping economic policy, particularly through the March 1985 Budget, and the foundation he laid for the Rao-Manmohan Singh reforms of 1991.
Ramesh praised Rajiv Gandhi’s statesmanship, which led to peace accords in troubled regions like Assam, Punjab, Mizoram, and Tripura, and his vision for applying science and technology to society, which resulted in impactful technology missions in areas such as drinking water supply, immunization, literacy, and telecom development. He also noted the establishment of institutions like C-DAC during Rajiv Gandhi’s tenure and the introduction of the New Education Policy of 1986.
Ramesh concluded by reflecting on Rajiv Gandhi’s character, describing him as a Prime Minister and a fine human being who was free of malice, vindictiveness, and self-glory.
Rajiv Gandhi, who became India’s youngest Prime Minister at the age of 40 after the assassination of his mother, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, was born on August 20, 1944. He was assassinated by a Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) suicide bomber during an election rally in Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu, on May 21, 1991.