Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU/ SRINAGAR, Aug 20: Rich tributes were paid to former Prime Minister Late Rajiv Gandhi on his 72nd birth anniversary by the Congress party and others through out the state by organizing several functions.
While paying rich tributes to former Prime Minister Late Rajiv Gandhi, JKPCC president G A Mir said that nation lost a great visionary and tallest leader in the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi, under whose able leadership the Nation touched the new heights in respect of education, development, computer science, agriculture etc. He said Rajiv Gandhi gave new direction to the country and brought it at par with the fast developing countries in the world.
Mir said that implementation of Panchayati Raj and introduction of computer science in the country were among the great and historical steps taken by Rajiv Gandhi for the over all development of the country and today India is one among the powerful development of the country. He said sacrifices made by Gandhi family shall continue to inspire the generations besides leading them at the path of development and prosperity.
In a grand function organised at PCC headquarters Shahidi Chowk Jammu, many Congress leaders and other party functionaries paid floral tributes to Late Rajiv Gandhi on his birth anniversary today.
The function was presided over by former Minister and PCC vice president Raman Bhalla. It was also attended by senior leaders of PCC, DCC Jammu and frontal organizations which includes Rajnish Sharma, Manjit Singh, Yogesh Sawhney, Vikram Malhotra, Namrata Sharma, Anil Chopra, Kuldip Raj Verma, Shiv Dev Singh, Girdhari Lal Chalotra, YV Sharma, Indu Pawar (Ex-MLA) President Mahila Congress; Neeraj Kundan-president NSUI, KL Gupta, Shashi Sharma, Shamsher Singh Chib, Nirdosh Sharma, Manjit Singh Jatt, Thomas Khokhar and others.
While paying tributes Mr Bhalla described Rajiv Gandhi as the architect of Panchayat Raj system in the country. Late Gandhi fulfilled the dreams of great leaders like Mahatma Gandhi to devolve powers of planning and development to the grass root institutions of democracy, so that the people shape their own destiny as per their needs. Rajiv Gandhi translated the concept of participatory democracy at the grass root levels, he added.
Referring to the present situation, Bhalla said that unholy alliance of PDP-BJP is the root cause of present situation of the State. He said the Chamber of Commerce & Industries is an independent body and its basic concept is to serve the interests of traders of Jammu. Presently, the traders are facing great hardships due to Kashmir turmoil but it was unfortunate that BJP, instead of supporting traders has misguided Jammu Chamber. He added that due to the negative roll of BJP, the traders of Jammu had already suffered heavy loss in 2008 agitation. He cautioned the people against BJP and Chamber for playing negative roll on the issues of AIIMS and NIIT in Jammu.
Other speakers while paying tributes to late Rajiv Gandhi projected his achievements and said that country emerged as leader of the world in information technology due to vision of Rajiv Gandhi for the youth, whom he gave a direction for the challenges of 21st century, which showed his farsightedness. They said that Rajiv Gandhi had taken a historical decision and lowered the voting age from 21 years to 18 years in order to ensure that the youth of the country also participate in the democratic systems.
In Srinagar, JKPCC functionaries also celebrated 72nd birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. In this connection PCC held a meeting of party leaders in Srinagar, which was presided by party spokesperson. On this occasion, Congress leaders paid floral tributes to former Prime Minister and remembered the sacrifices he made for the integrity of the country.
Recalling the services rendered by Late Rajiv Gandhi for the bation, Congress leaders termed him a symbol of development and honesty. They said, it is because of the efforts of late Gandhi that Nation touched the new heights in various fields.
Youth Congress unit Ramban led by Shahrukh Bhatti also paid floral tributes to former PM Rajiv Gandhi in a function held at Batote town. A large number of Youth Congress activists assembled in the town and paid floral tributes and also highlighted his contributions.
Rajiv Gandhi Memorial College of Education, Kathua celebrated the birth anniversary of late Rajiv Gandhi by offering floral tributes by Anu Dogra, chairperson; Dr G P Sachdev- Principal, students and staff members today. A seminar on Late Gandhi was also held to mark the occasion.
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