New Delhi: Congress president Rahul Gandhi paid homage to his father and former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi on his 28th death anniversary Tuesday at his memorial, ‘Veer Bhoomi’, here. He was accompanied by his mother and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and other senior Congress leaders.
In a tweet, Rahul remembered his father as a gentle person who taught him to forgive and never hate. “My father was gentle, loving, kind & affectionate. He taught me to love & respect all beings. To never hate. To forgive. I miss him. On his death anniversary, I remember my father with love & gratitude,” Rahul said.
Rajiv took over reins of the Congress following the assassination of his mother and then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in October 1984. The same year, he became India’s youngest Prime Minister at the age of 40.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also took to Twitter to pay tribute to the former PM. “Tributes to former PM Shri Rajiv Gandhi on his death anniversary,” Modi tweeted.
This comes after Modi dubbed Rajiv ‘bhrashtachari No. 1’ (Corrupt No. 1) at an election rally earlier this month. Modi had then said, “Your father was termed ‘Mr. Clean’ by his courtiers, but his life ended as ‘Bhrashtachari No: 1’.”
Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated by a suicide LTTE bomber during an election rally in Tamil Nadu’s Sriperumbudur town on this day in 1991.
PTI