New Delhi, 20 August (H.S.): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday paid tribute to former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi on his birth anniversary. In a post on X, Modi wrote, “Tributes to former Prime Minister of India Shri Rajiv Gandhi on his birth anniversary.”

Members of the late leader’s family, including Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, visited Rajiv Gandhi’s memorial at Veer Bhumi to pay their respects. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also remembered the former Prime Minister.

Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi and her husband Robert Vadra, accompanied by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, reached Veer Bhumi and paid floral tributes to Rajiv Gandhi.

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla wrote on X, “My heartfelt homage to former Prime Minister Shri Rajiv Gandhi ji on his birth anniversary.”

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also paid tribute to Rajiv Gandhi, writing on X, “I pay tribute to former Prime Minister of India Rajiv Gandhi on his birth anniversary. He also made a significant contribution to India’s development journey.”

Rajiv Gandhi’s birth anniversary is observed as Sadbhavana Diwas, or Harmony Day. He became the Prime Minister of India at the age of 40. Rajiv Gandhi was born on August 20, 1944, in Bombay, now Mumbai.

Following the assassination of his mother, former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, on October 31, 1984, Rajiv Gandhi became Congress president and subsequently took over as Prime Minister. He served as Prime Minister from 1984 to 1989.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar