Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh Congress leaders paid tributes to former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi on his 35th death anniversary on Thursday. During a seminar organized to remember the former Prime Minister, Congress leaders targeted the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) over issues related to democracy, farmers, and women's representation.
Rajiv Gandhi's contributions highlighted
Rajya Sabha Deputy Leader Pramod Tiwari credited Rajiv Gandhi with ushering in India's information technology revolution and strengthening grassroots democracy through the 73rd and 74th Constitutional amendments. Tiwari emphasized that these amendments empowered local self-governance institutions, bringing democracy to the village level.
Uttar Pradesh Congress Chief Ajay Rai described Rajiv Gandhi as a visionary leader who linked youth empowerment with national development. He referred to key decisions taken by Rajiv Gandhi's government, including lowering the voting age from 21 to 18 years, expansion of computerization, and the establishment of Navodaya Vidyalayas to provide quality education to rural children.
Congress attacks BJP and RSS
Ajay Rai launched a scathing attack on the BJP and RSS, alleging that Congress leaders and freedom fighters had sacrificed for the country while the RSS had a "history of betrayal." He accused the central government of ignoring issues faced by farmers and youth, including agrarian distress and unemployment. Rai further criticized the BJP-led government for undermining democratic institutions and weakening the federal structure.
The seminar saw participation from several senior Congress leaders and workers, who reiterated the party's commitment to Rajiv Gandhi's ideals of technology-driven progress and inclusive governance. The event concluded with a resolution to continue fighting for the rights of farmers, women, and youth, as envisioned by the former Prime Minister.
