Meeting held to discuss and task leaders with responsibility to prepare for celebrations

Congress to observe Rajiv Gandhi death anniversary on grand scale: Bhalla

JAMMU,  May 10: J&K Congress is set to celebrate former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi’s death anniversary on a grand scale and programmes will be held across J&K.  In this regard JKPCC Working President Raman Bhalla today called a meeting of PCC Office bearers, Ex MPs, Ex MLAs/Ex MLCs, DCC President, Heads of Frontal Organizations, Contesting Candidates, Corporators of JMC and Block Presidents, at his residence to discuss and task the leaders with the responsibility to prepare for the celebrations.

Speaking on the occasion, Bhalla asked leaders to reach out to the public on the death anniversary of Rajiv Gandhi and also directed the party functionaries to observe the day at district and block levels with the involvement of the general public at large. He has also instructed the leaders that apart from the prayer meetings and floral tributes, social programmes such as blood donation camps, plantation of saplings, seminars, conferences should be held.Congress is planning to send this message to the grassroots of the society to remind the public about the former Prime Minister”s contribution to change the perception of the masses about the party, added Bhalla.

Bhalla said, “Rajiv Gandhi was the architect of modern India, who worked towards making a strong and self-reliant India. The country is still reaping the benefits of his vision. It was his foresight that has put India in the ranks of strong, modern nations.”He said party will highlight the works of the late Prime Minister as “architect of Digital India” and the “father of information technology and telecommunication revolution”. Congress will also highlight the works done by the former Prime Minister in the field of science and technology and his efforts towards bringing about a computer revolution in the country.”Rajiv Gandhi had strengthened the Panchayati Raj system in the country. He believed that if the panchayat system is not strong, democracy cannot reach the ground level,” Bhalla said.

Bhalla said  Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas were set up with the idea that children living in the villages should get world-class education, he said.Bhalla  said that Rajiv Gandhi was known for his policies and for building an India of the 21st century. He said that if India is enjoying the technological advancements, its foundations were laid down by Rajiv Gandhi, who believed in value-based politics, he added. Saying his single term as PM will be remembered for far-reaching achievements, including deepening the foundations of the IT revolution that has transformed India. He said Gandhi had laid the roadmap for 21st century India before the country, an India in which the power of the youth, the power of villages, the potential of women, the use of new technologies, finds expression.”Steps like information revolution, communication revolution, Panchayati Raj, right to vote at 18 years were steps to strengthen this expression, he added.

Gandhi’s  dream was to take India to the top rank in the 21st century. He worked day and night about that dream and gave a new direction to India,” Bhalla said.”Our path is definitely full of challenges. But, today, we all have to reiterate our resolve to fulfil the dream of taking India to the highest level,” he said.Rajiv Gandhi dream of India Strong, Independent, Self-Reliant and in the front rank of the nations of the world, in the service of mankind.”His single term as prime minister will be remembered for numerous landmarks and far-reaching achievements of which six stands out for his personal drive, commitment and leadership.”He launched technology missions for addressing societal challenges that have, for example, made India a world-leader in vaccine production and made the country polio-free,” Bhalla said.

Gandhi led the way personally in ensuring that Panchayats and Nagarpalikas were accorded Constitutional status with one-third reservation for women and emerged as effective institutions of self-government,” Bhalla said.The fact that there are now 14 lakh women elected to such institutions is a tribute to his determination, he added.He also pointed out that Rajiv Gandhi crafted accords that brought peace and development back to troubled regions of the country like Assam, Punjab, Mizoram and Darjeeling.He ensured that 18-year olds have the right to vote, opened a new future to youth by establishing the network of Navodaya Vidyalayas in all districts and had Swami Vivekananda’s birthday declared as National Youth Day,” he said.

The major contribution of the former Prime Minister, Bhalla said, was that he launched ‘Project Clean Ganga’ and the national wasteland development programme, and was responsible for a comprehensive law to protect the environment.”Simultaneously, the process of liberalization was initiated which paved the way for the 1991 economic reforms that were anchored in the Congress manifesto that bore his imprint,” he said.He took significant initiatives to resolve our long-standing issues with China & Pakistan and submitted to the UN an action plan for universal and complete nuclear disarmament,” Bhalla said.Congress salutes this brave son of India and rededicates itself to the ideals he stood for, the principles he upheld, the values he cherished and the causes he championed, he said.

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