Prayagraj, 20 Aug (HS): Bharat Ratna and former Prime

Minister Rajiv Gandhi envisioned taking India into the 21st century and firmly

believed that the future of the country could be transformed through the

effective use of technology. These views were made by Deputy Leader of the

Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Pramod Tiwari at a Shriddhanjali Sabha organized

by the City Congress Committee at Anand Bhawan on the 82nd birth anniversary of

former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, observed as Sadbhavana Diwas.

Tiwari said that Rajiv Gandhi, a visionary and far-sighted

leader, laid the foundation for the computer, information technology and

telecommunications revolutions, which have today emerged as among the most

decisive factors driving India's economy forward. He said that Rajiv Gandhi's

decision to provide 33 percent reservation for women in various fields and to

reduce the voting age from 21 to 18 year was aimed at bringing the youth into

the democratic process. He also strengthened the Gandhian vision at the

grassroots level by introducing Panchayati Raj reforms and brought in the

Anti-Defection Law to promote clean politics in the country.

AICC Secretary Zarita Latphalang said that Rajiv Gandhi wanted

to take the country to the pinnacle of progress and development.

“His political life was very short but hugely impactful. He

left behind numerous legacies that we take for granted now,'' said senior

Congress leader Shekhar Bahuguna. ''These include the right of 18 year olds to

vote; Constitutional empowerment of panchayats and nagarpalikas, including

reservations for women in elections to them; peace in Assam, Mizoram, Tripura

and Punjab; India's entry into the IT, computer and telecom era as a major

power; the use of science & technology to address societal concerns and challenges;

strengthening of India's space and nuclear programmes. And much more,'' he

added. Bahuguna said that late Rajiv Gandhi ji was the creator of modern India

and the first leader to adapt the country to the global challenges of the 21st

century. He said that in true sense, Bharat Ratna Shri Rajiv Gandhi was the

dreamer of 21st century India.

Shekhar Bahuguna expressed that Rajiv was convinced that

without massive induction of science and technology and bringing modernization

in every field India would not be able to enter the 21st century. He reiterated

that Rajiv was the great bridge to link past, the present and the future of

India. He praised Rajiv in empowering

women, providing, 18 years youths vote rights and making anti defection law

,Panchayti Raj enacted to promote value based politics.

Earlier Tiwari garlanded the portrait of the Rajiv Gandhi

and paid his tributes. He also administered the Sadbhavana Diwas pledge to the

Congress workers. The Shriddhanjali Sabha was presided over by City President

Fuzail Hashmi. Former UP Congress spokesperson Kishore Varshney conducted the

proceedings.

Former MLA Vijay Prakash, senior leader Shekhar Bahuguna,

Ashfaq Ahmad, Harikesh Tripathi, Sudhakar Tiwari, Mukund Tiwari, Vijay Mishra,

Mumtaz Ansari, Sanjay Tiwari, Alpana Nishad, Parvez Siddiqui, Mahesh Tripathi,

Rajneesh Singh Rishu, Anil Pandey, Manoj Pasi, Vinay Dubey, Rajneesh Das,

Sharad Upadhyay, Rajesh Rakesh, Manas Shukla, Devi Pandey, Kameshwar Sonkar,

Rizwana Begum, Jitendra Sonkar, Dr. Anil Gaur, Nasreen Bano, Raj Bahadur Gupta,

Harishchandra Dwivedi, Jai Prakash Singh, Ashish Chaudhary, Iftikhar Ahmad,

Shashank Singh, Kashif Rizvi, Anup Tripathi, Lareb Faiz and many others were

present.

Hindusthan Samachar / Abhishek Awasthi