Country Pays Rich Tributes to Rajiv Gandhi on Death Anniversary

The Nation paid rich tributes to former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi on his 19th death anniversary, also observed as Anti-Terrorism Day, said media reports.

The objective behind the observance of Anti-Terrorism Day is to keep away the youth from the terrorism/violence by bringing to the fore the suffering of the common people and showing how it is prejudicial to the national interest.

President Pratibha Patil, Vice-President Hamid Ansari, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and the departed leader’s wife and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi were among the first to pay floral tributes to the late leader at his memorial ‘Veer Bhumi’ in New Delhi, reports said.

Congress MP Rahul and Priyanka along with her husband Robert Vadra were also present at the remembrance ceremony at the memorial, said reports.

Besides, Defence Minister A K Antony, Home Minister P Chidambaram and a number of Congress leaders paid floral tributes at the memorial, repots said.

Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated on May 21, 1991 at Sriperumbudur in Tamil Nadu during a poll campaign.

(Based on internet reports)