Senior Congress leader and former Haryana chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda on Thursday paid tribute to former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi on his 35th death anniversary. He said the Nehru-Gandhi family has always made major sacrifices for the country and never worked for personal gain.
Talking to mediapersons in the national capital, Hooda remembered Rajiv Gandhi’s assassination and spoke about his popularity among young people across the country. “Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated during elections, when he was expected to become Prime Minister again. The youth of the country saw him as an idol,” Hooda said.
Taking a direct attack on the current government, the senior Congress leader said India’s growth has slowed in recent years compared to earlier Congress-led governments. “When Congress came to power earlier, it pushed the country forward, but today the country is lagging behind,” he added.
When asked about whether Rahul Gandhi’s leadership style is similar to his late father, Hooda highlighted the family’s long tradition of public service and sacrifice.
“The members of this family have made sacrifices. From Motilal Nehru to Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi, Sanjay Gandhi, all have served the nation with sacrifice, not personal gain,” Hooda said.
Earlier, several Congress leaders also paid tribute to former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi on his 35th death anniversary at his memorial Vir Bhumi in New Delhi.
Rajiv Gandhi took charge of the Congress party in 1984 after the assassination of his mother and then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. He became the country’s youngest Prime Minister at the age of 40 in October 1984.
He served as Prime Minister until December 2, 1989. Born on August 20, 1944, Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated by a LTTE suicide bomber during an election rally in Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu, on May 21, 1991.
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