New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday led the nation in paying homage to former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi on his 74th birth annive-rsary. Former President Pranab Mukherjee, Congress chief Rahul Gandhi and other senior party leaders, including Manmohan Singh and Sonia Gandhi, paid floral tribute to him at Veer Bhumi in the national capital. Rahul Gandhi, in a tweet, recalled the time he spent with his father. “Rajiv Gandhi was a kind, gentle and affectionate man whose untimely death left a deep void in my life. I remember the times we had together and the many birthdays we were lucky to celebrate with him when he was alive. He is greatly missed, but his memory lives on,” he said.
Mr Modi recalled the “efforts” of the former Prime Minister “towards the nation”. “Tributes to our former Prime Minister Shri Rajiv Gandhiji on his birth anniversary. We remember his efforts towards the nation,” he wrote on Twitter.
In several other parts of the country, regional leaders also paid tributes to Rajiv Gandhi by garlanding his portrait or statues.
Rajasthan Congress chief Sachin Pilot tweeted in Hindi, “Popular leader with a visionary personality, tribute to former Prime Minister late Shri Rajiv Gandhi. Wishes to all people of the country on Sadbhavna Diwas.” He also posted a picture of Rajiv Gandhi, whose birth anniversary is celebrate as “Sadbhavna Diwas”.
At Veer Bhumi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, her husband Robert Vadra, former Union minister Mani Shankar Aiyar also paid homage to the former Prime Minister.
