Maharashtra: Uddhav Thackeray, Ajit Pawar pay tribute to Rajiv Gandhi on his birth anniversary

Uddhav Thackeray. File Pic/Bipin Kokate

Leaders across political parties paid tributes to former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi on his 77th birth anniversary.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray garlanded the portrait of the late Congress leader at his residence Matoshree in suburban Mumbai and administered the Sadhbhavana Day pledge to people present on the occasion. While paying tribute to Gandhi, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar said the former prime minister had prepared India to face the challenges of the 21st century and ushered in the digital revolution.

"The work-from-home concept in recent times has become possible only because of Rajiv Gandhi's vision. Expanding the telecommunication network and strengthening the Panchayat Raj were some of his achievements. Sadhbhavna Day observed on the occasion will help create a violence-free society," Pawar said.

PWD Minister Ashok Chavan offered floral tributes to Gandhi at Mantralaya, the state secretariat, and administered the Sadhbhavna Day pledge of resolving all differences amicably and constitutionally and creation of a society without bias, hate and violence. Congress ministers Varsha Gaikwad, KC Padvi and bureaucrats were present on the occasion.

Meanwhile, Congress MP Rahul Gandhi also paid tribute to former PM on his birth anniversary. Gandhi paid floral tributes to his father at his memorial, Veer Bhumi in New Delhi and spent some time there.

Rahul Gandhi posted on Facebook, 'Remembering Shri Rajiv Gandhi ji on his birth anniversary' Pic/Pallav Paliwal

Senior party leaders Pawan Kumar Bansal, KC Venugopal and Indian Youth Congress chief Srinivas BV, among other leaders, were present on the occasion. "A secular India alone is an India that can survive," Rahul Gandhi posted his father's quote on Facebook. "Remembering Shri Rajiv Gandhi ji on his birth anniversary," he said in the post.

Rahul Gandhi along with other Congress leaders remembering Rajiv Gandhi at Veerbhoomi in New Delhi. Pic/Pallav Paliwal

The Congress, from its official Twitter handle, tweeted, "India's youngest Prime Minister. The architect of 21st Century India. The visionary, the pioneer, the patriot. Today we pay homage to Bharat Ratna, Rajiv Gandhi and celebrate his immense contributions to the nation."

Born in 1944, Gandhi was the prime minister from 1984 to 1989. He was assassinated in 1991.

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