Rahul Gandhi shared a childhood picture with Indira Gandhi and expressed, 'For India, a people's leader, Prime Minister. For me, my grandmother, my teacher.'
On the 106th birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, top Congress leaders, including Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, CPP chairperson Sonia Gandhi, and former party president Rahul Gandhi, paid heartfelt tributes at Shakti Sthal, the memorial dedicated to the late Prime Minister.
Rahul Gandhi, sharing a childhood picture with Indira Gandhi, expressed, "For India, a people's leader, Prime Minister. For me, my grandmother, my teacher."
In a Hindi post, Gandhi continued, "The values taught by you of dedication to the country and people are the strength of my every step, the strength of my thinking."
The Congress president and CPP chairperson actively participated in a commemorative program titled 'Indira - The People's Prime Minister' at the Indira Gandhi Memorial located at 1, Safdarjung Road. This program highlighted the various stages of Indira Gandhi's life, detailing her achievements in her political journey. The event also featured a photo exhibition and a cultural program to honor her memory.
Subsequently, Kharge, Sonia Gandhi, and other leaders paid homage to the former prime minister at her portrait in the Central Hall of Parliament.
Congress members led by Pradesh Congress Committee president Vikar Rasool Wani assembled at Indira Chowk and garlanded the statue of Gandhi.
"The nation reached great heights due to her courageous decisions and progressed on all fronts despite facing numerous challenges," Wani said.
He said some politicians with vested interests are trying to belittle the work of Congress stalwarts, especially the work done by the Nehru family for the country.
"The present BJP regime led by (Prime Minister Narendra) Modi is making every effort to distort facts to divert the attention of the nation from the contribution of Congress and its great leaders," the PCC president said.
He said the people of Jammu and Kashmir will not forgive BJP for its "historic blunder" of disbanding and downgrading Jammu and Kashmir into two Union Territories.
"In this way, the people have been deprived of their powers and rights in an arbitrary and undemocratic manner," he said.
Wani said his party will strive for the restoration of full statehood and other constitutional safeguards for Jammu and Kashmir for the protection of the rights of its people.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde paid floral tributes to the portrait of Indira Gandhi at his official residence in Mumbai and administered a National Unity Day pledge to mark the occasion.
Remembering Indira Gandhi, Pawar described her as a visionary who raised India's image abroad with her political astuteness.
"Garibi Hatao slogan was aimed at raising the standard of poor people in India," he posted on X.
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray posted a joint picture of his late grandfather Bal Thackeray and Indira Gandhi, saying he pays tributes to her strong and visionary leadership.