President Pratibha Patil on Friday led the nation in paying tribute to former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi on his 19th death anniversary. She was first to pay floral tribute at the departed leader’s memorial Vir Bhumi here in the morning.
Vice-President Hamid Ansari, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the departed leader’s wife and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Sushma Swaraj, were the first among the leaders who followed the President in paying floral tribute to India’s youngest ever Prime Minister.
Others among the important personalities present on the occasion at the memorial included late Rajiv’s son and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi and his daughter Priyanka along with her husband Robert Vadra and her children.
Defence minister A.K. Antony, home minister P. Chidambaram and a number of Congress leaders also paid floral tributes at the memorial. Later at the AICC headquarters, 24-Akbar Road, treasurer of the party Motilal Vohra led the other Congressmen in paying floral tribute to the departed leader on his portrait. Indian National Youth Congress also organised a blood donation camp at it central office here, where hundreds of youth donated blood. The event was organised in association with the Red Cross Society.
The young MP Gandhi also graced the occasion and enthused the INYC functionaries and activists to proactively participate in social work and welfare of the people.
He was heard enquiring about health and feeling from those, who donated blood on the occasion. He stayed there for about an hour. Meanwhile, Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit paid tribute to the departed leader at the state unit’s headquarters.