Chief Minister pays floral tribute to former PM Rajiv Gandhi on his birth anniversary

Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu paid homage to former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi on his birth anniversary by offering floral tributes at his statue at Rajiv Chowk, Chhota Shimla, today.  The day is also being observed as Sadbhavana Diwas across the State.

The Chief Minister also administered the Sadbhavana Diwas pledge to the officers and officials of H.P. Secretariat on the occasion.

On the occasion, the Chief Minister said that Bharat Ratan former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi is also known as the architect of modern India. He said that during his tenure as the Prime Minister, he spearheaded numerous reforms and initiatives to bring positive change in the mindset of the people and the society. He said: "When Rajiv Gandhi was Prime Minister, I was president of the National Students' Union of India (NSUI). On the demand of the NSUI, Rajiv Gandhi granted the right to vote to the youth by reducing the age to vote from 21 years to 18 years, ensuring active participation of youth in the democratic process. It was the greatest achievement of his tenure."

Sh. Sukhu said that in the modern era, India was the leading country in the entire world in the IT sector due to the efforts and vision of Rajiv Gandhi. He said that when America declined the request to provide supercomputers to India, then he took decisive steps to ignite an IT revolution in the country. He said that Rajiv Gandhi also voiced for the rights of women in the democratic process and granted 33 percent reservation to women in Panchayati Raj Institutions. He said that senior Congress leader Sonia Gandhi also advocates for 33 percent reservation to women in Vidhan Sabha and Parliament.

Health Minister Dr. (Col.) Dhani Ram Shandil, Education Minister Rohit Thakur, Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee Chief Pratibha Singh, Chief Parliamentary Secretary Mohan Lal Brakta and Sanjay Awasthy, Chairman of the H.P. Buildings and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board Nardev Kanwar,  Vice-Chairman HIMUDA Yashwant Chhajta, Mayor MC Shimla Surender Chauhan, Deputy Mayor Uma Kaushal, Councilors of MC Shimla, Chief Minister's OSD Ritesh Kaprate were also present on the occasion among others.