'Worked To Empower Women': Sonia Gandhi Remembers Former PM Rajiv Gandhi On His Birth Anniversary

On the occasion of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi's birth anniversary, Congress leaders attended the 25th Rajiv Gandhi National Sadbhavana Award at Jawahar Bhawan.

Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi.

Source : PTI

Commemorating former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi on his 79th birth anniversary, Congress Parliamentary Party (CPP) chairperson Sonia Gandhi on Sunday stated that he "always worked for strengthening the women in our country," news agency ANI reported. Addressing the gathering, Sonia Gandhi stated: "He made sure that reservation was provided for women in Panchayats and Municipal Corporations. If today, over 15 lakh elected women representatives are there in rural and urban bodies, it is only because of Rajiv Gandhi's hard work and far-sightedness."

#WATCH | Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi says "Former PM Rajiv Gandhi always worked for strengthening the women in our country. He made sure that reservation was provided for women in Panchayats and Municipal Corporations. If today, over 15 lakh elected… pic.twitter.com/jDSFKLIcXo

— ANI (@ANI) August 20, 2023

"Rajiv Gandhi's political career was finished in a brutal manner but he achieved many milestones in that short time. He was very sensitive towards the diversity of the country," she further stated. 

On the occasion of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi's birth anniversary, Congress leaders attended the 25th Rajiv Gandhi National Sadbhavana Award at Jawahar Bhawan.

Remembering Congress's massive electoral victory under the leadership of former Prime Minister, party president Mallikarjun Kharge stated: "Today, several people from different ideologies try to discredit Rajiv Gandhi's achievements... Rajiv Gandhi's success cannot be hidden for too long. In 1984, under Rajiv Gandhi, Congress got the highest majority of 401 seats in Lok Sabha. Rajiv Gandhi always worked for the development of all sections of the society." 

"Today is the 79th birth anniversary of former PM Rajiv Gandhi and various programmes are being organised across the country to celebrate. However, Rajiv Gandhi National Sadbhavna Award is special event. As a prime minister, Rajiv Gandhi had earned a place among top leaders of the world," Kharge further stated. 

VIDEO | "Today is the 79th birth anniversary of former PM Rajiv Gandhi and various programmes are being organised across the country to celebrate. However, Rajiv Gandhi National Sadbhavna Award is special event. As a prime minister, Rajiv Gandhi had earned a place among top… pic.twitter.com/ve1uJAlH4B

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) August 20, 2023

Earlier today, Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, who is on a four-day visit to Ladakh, paid tribute to his father, former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. "Papa, the dreams you had for India are shown from these priceless memories. Your mark is my way - understanding the struggles and dreams of every Indian, listening to the voice of Mother India," he stated. 

Following the assassination of his mother, then-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi assumed leadership of the Congress in 1984.

When he took office in October 1984, he was 40 years old, becoming India's youngest Prime Minister.

Rajiv Gandhi, born on August 20, 1944, was killed on May 21, 1991, at an electoral rally in Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu, by a Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) suicide bomber.