Rajiv Gandhi's single term as PM will be remembered for far-reaching achievements: Congress on his birth anniversary

The Congress on Saturday paid rich tributes to former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi on his birth anniversary saying his single term as PM will be remembered for farreaching achievements including deepening the foundations of the IT revolution that has transformed IndiaFormer Congress chief Rahul Gandhi and party general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra visited their fathers memorial Veer Bhumi and paid homage on his 78th birth anniversary in the morningPapa you are always with me in my heart I will always try to fulfil the dream that you saw for the country Rahul Gandhi said in a tweet in HindiHe also shared a video and picture montage on Rajiv GandhiIn a Facebook post in Hindi Priyanka Gandhi said My father Shri Rajiv Gandhi had laid the roadmap for 21st century India before the country An India in which the power of the youth the power of villages the potential of women the use of new technologies finds expressionSteps like information revolution communication revolution Panchayati Raj right to vote at 18 years were steps to strengthen this expression she addedMy fathers dream was to take India to the top rank in the 21st century He worked day and night about that dream and gave a new direction to India Priyanka Gandhi saidAlso Read India is witnessing death of democracy Rahul GandhiOur path is definitely full of challenges But today on the birth anniversary of Shri Rajiv Gandhi ji we all have to reiterate our resolve to fulfil the dream of taking India to the highest level she saidOn Twitter Priyanka Gandhi posted a montage of pictures and videos of Rajiv Gandhi and also a quote by the former PM I dream of India Strong Independent SelfReliant and in the front rank of the nations of the world in the service of mankindIn a statement Congress general secretary incharge communications Jairam Ramesh said his single term as prime minister will be remembered for numerous landmarks and farreaching achievements of which six stand out for his personal drive commitment and leadershipFirst he deepened the foundations of the IT revolution that has transformed India Ramesh said adding that Gandhi ushered the country into the computer telecom and software development eraHe launched technology missions for addressing societal challenges that have for example made India a worldleader in vaccine production and made the country poliofree Ramesh saidSecond he led the way personally in ensuring that Panchayats and Nagarpalikas were accorded Constitutional status with onethird reservation for women and emerged as effective institutions of selfgovernment the Congress general secretary saidThe fact that there are now 14 lakh women elected to such institutions is a tribute to his determination Ramesh addedHe also pointed out that Rajiv Gandhi crafted accords that brought peace and development back to troubled regions of the country like Assam Punjab Mizoram and DarjeelingFourth he ensured that 18year olds have the right to vote opened a new future to youth by establishing the network of Navodaya Vidyalayas in all districts and had Swami Vivekanandas birthday declared as National Youth Day he saidAlso Read Bilkis Bano case Rahul Gandhi says entire country seeing difference between PM Modis words deedsThe fifth major contribution of the former prime minister Ramesh said was that he launched Project Clean Ganga and the national wasteland development programme and was responsible for a comprehensive law to protect the environmentSimultaneously the process of liberalization was initiated which paved the way for the 1991 economic reforms that were anchored in the Congress manifesto that bore his imprint he saidSixth he took significant initiatives to resolve our longstanding issues with China amp Pakistan and submitted to the UN an action plan for universal and complete nuclear disarmament Ramesh saidThe Indian National Congress salutes this brave son of India and rededicates itself to the ideals he stood for the principles he upheld the values he cherished and the causes he championed he saidThe Congress on its official Twitter handle fondly remembered the former prime minister and hailed him as the architect of 21st century IndiaIt was through his farsighted vision that ushered in the IT amp telecom revolution in India Today we celebrate his legacy the party said in a tweetSeveral Congress leaders including Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel and partys general secretary K C Venugopal also paid tributes to Rajiv Gandhi on his birth anniversaryIn a message on the occasion released by the Chhattisgarh government Rahul Gandhi appreciated Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel for working tirelessly in the direction of realising the vision of an inclusive societyRahul Gandhi said schemes like Rajiv Gandhi Kisan Nyay Yojana Godhan Nyay Yojana Narva Garhwa Durva Bhari Yojana reflect Chhattisgarhs commitment to social justice and welfareI am glad to know that on the birth anniversary of Rajiv ji another installment is being released to more than 26 lakh farmers under the Rajiv Gandhi Kisan Nyay Yojana The scheme lives up to his vision of transforming our villages through efficient transfer of resources to our rural areas Rahul Gandhi saidIndias youngest prime minister Rajiv Gandhi was in office during 198489 He was assassinated by a LTTE suicide bomber in 1991This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever