Agartala: The 82nd birth anniversary of former Prime Minister and Bharat Ratna Rajiv Gandhi was observed in Tripura on Thursday, with Congress leaders and workers paying tribute to his contributions to national integration, technological advancement and grassroots democracy.
The Tripura Pradesh Congress Committee organised a series of commemorative programmes in Agartala. The observance began with the hoisting of the party flag at Congress Bhavan, followed by floral tributes at Rajiv Gandhi’s statue. Party leaders later visited the Shaheed Bedi at Gandhi Ghat and paid homage.
The occasion was also observed as Sadbhavana Diwas, with Congress leaders recalling Rajiv Gandhi’s message of peace, communal harmony and national unity. Pradesh Congress president Ashish Kumar Saha, MLA Sudip Roy Barman, senior Congress leader Gopal Chandra Roy and several other party functionaries participated in the programmes.
Addressing the gathering, Ashish Kumar Saha highlighted Rajiv Gandhi’s contribution to India’s development and modernisation. He said the former Prime Minister played a significant role in promoting science and technology in governance and creating the foundation for India’s transformation in the information and communication sectors.
Saha also recalled Gandhi’s efforts to strengthen Panchayati Raj institutions and empower local bodies, describing them as important steps towards strengthening democracy at the grassroots level. He said Rajiv Gandhi’s youthful leadership inspired an entire generation and that his ideals of peace, unity and development remain relevant today.
Congress leaders also used the occasion to raise concerns over the prevailing political situation, alleging that democratic values and institutions were facing increasing challenges. They called for the protection of constitutional principles and advocated inclusive development in line with Gandhi’s political vision.
Similar commemorative programmes were organised at Congress offices across districts and blocks in Tripura, where party workers offered floral tributes and remembered the former Prime Minister’s contributions.
Speakers highlighted Rajiv Gandhi’s initiatives in education, telecommunications, technology and decentralised governance, saying they helped lay the groundwork for India’s modernisation.
The programmes concluded with Congress leaders and workers pledging to uphold the values of national integration, social harmony, democratic governance and technological progress associated with Rajiv Gandhi’s legacy.
