India commemorated the 80th birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi on Tuesday, with tributes pouring in from political leaders across the spectrum. Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to X (formerly Twitter) to pay his respects, stating, “Tributes to our former Prime Minister Shri Rajiv Gandhi Ji on his birth anniversary.”
Congress leaders also joined in the remembrance. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge lauded Gandhi’s contribution to propelling India into the 21st century. In a post on X, Kharge emphasized Gandhi’s “unprecedented contribution” and highlighted his initiatives such as lowering the voting age to 18 years, strengthening the Panchayati Raj system, driving the telecom and IT revolution, and promoting women’s empowerment.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi paid floral tributes to his late father at Veer Bhumi, the memorial in New Delhi.
Party RS MP Jairam Ramesh delved into Gandhi’s impact on India’s political and technological landscape. He specifically mentioned the 1985 budget, which ushered in a new economic policy approach, and the 1991 Lok Sabha election manifesto, credited with laying the foundation for economic reforms implemented later that year. Ramesh also highlighted Gandhi’s role in brokering peace accords in troubled regions like Assam, Punjab, Mizoram, and Tripura.
Born on August 20, 1944, Rajiv Gandhi assumed leadership of the Congress Party in 1984 after the assassination of his mother, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. He became India’s youngest Prime Minister at the age of 40. Sadly, his life was cut short on May 21, 1991, when he was assassinated by a Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) suicide bomber during an election rally in Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu.
Gandhi’s legacy continues to be debated and analyzed, with his supporters praising his vision for a modern India and his critics questioning some of his policies. However, his contributions to India’s political and technological landscape remain undeniable, and his 80th birth anniversary served as a reminder of his impact on the nation.
