Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Aug 20: Pradesh Congress Committee held an impressive function in Gandhi Nagar here today to celebrate the 75th birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and him floral tributes.
The function was attended by several senior leaders of PCC, functionaries of District Congress Committee, Blocks and Frontal organizations. They include Madan Lal Sharma (Ex-MP), Tara Chand (former DyCM), Mula Ram (Former Minister & Vice President PCC), Kanta Bhan, Jugal Kishore Sharma (Ex-minister), Ravinder Sharma (Chief spokesperson), general secretaries Manmohan Singh, Shah Mohd Choudhary, Namrata Sharma, Indu Pawar (Mahila Congress president); Vikram Malhotra (DCC president Jammu Urban), Distt president Kathua Dr Manohar Lal Sharma, Distt president Samba Manjit Singh; Ex-MLAs Shiv Dev Singh, Ashok Sharma and Ch Gharu Ram.
Former minister and vice president JKPCC Raman Bhalla presided over the function.
While paying floral tributes to Late Rajiv Gandhi, PCC leaders described him as the architect of 21st century, who prepared the youth of the country for the future challenges in the modern world, especially IT and computer revolution, lowering of voting age from 21 years to 18 years and a vibrant Panchayat Raj system in the country.
Raman Bhalla said that it was vision of Late Rajiv Gandhi that he foresaw the future of the country in preparing and educating youth of the Country for the 21st Century. He saw great opportunity in the IT revolution and introduced computerization in late eighties. The opposition especially BJP leaders termed him as a “Computer Boy”. Today they talk of digital India, which became possible due to the efforts of Rajiv Gandhi. He said that Rajiv Gandhi lowered the voting age to 18 years, gave vibrant Panchayat Raj System with 33% reservation to women. He said that 73rd / 74th amendment was introduced and incorporated into the Panchayats & Urban bodies to establish elected three-tier system in the state by the efforts of Congress in the previous coalition of NC-Congress in 2014.
Speaking on the occasion Tara Chand described Rajiv Gandhi as a visionary leader who led the nation to great achievements in various fields. He will be remembered for his youth policy to prepare them for the present day challenges.
Madan Lal Sharma recalled the services and contributions made by the leader and stated that the era of under Rajiv Gandhi as Prime Minister was the best of his times with regards to the development and involvement of masses at very grass root level i.e. Panchayati Raj, Local Self Government, special inputs on the participation of the youth by lowering the age of voting to 18 years from 21 years.
Mula Ram, Jugal Kishore, Balwan Singh, Ravinder Sharma, Manmohan Singh and Vikram Malhotra also spoke on the occasion.
Prominent among others present included, Maheshwar Singh, Vinod Sharma, Rajesh Sadotra (Seva Dal), Suresh Dogra (OBC), KK Pangotra (Legal Dept.), Gurdarshan Singh ( Minority Dept.); PCC secretaries Pawan Raina, Krishan Lal Gupta, Harvinder Singh Mehta, Narinder Sharma, Ch Sukhdev Singh, Neeraj Gupta, Sanjeev Pandha, Satish Sharma; Corporators- Dwarka Choudhary, Gourav Chopra, Kamal Singh, Rajinder Singh and Pritam Singh; Dr RK Khajuria and Madan Lal Malagar.
Similar function was organised at Samba under the leadership of former MLA Parkash Sharma. Several DCC members were present on the occasion.
Meanwhile, NPP leaders Prof Bhim Singh also paid tributes to Rajiv Gandhi on his birth anniversary in a brief function held at Delhi.
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