JAMMU, Aug 20: The 72nd Birth Anniversary of former Prime Minister Late Rajiv Gandhi Ji was celebrated by the Congress party through out the state by organizing several functions. The main function was held at PCC HQ Shaheedi Chowk Jammu.
The function was presided over by Shri Raman Bhalla (former Minister) Vice President PCC and attended by senior leaders of PCC, DCC Jammu and frontal organizations which includes Shri Rajnish Sharma (Co-Treasurer PCC); S. Manjit Singh; Yogesh Sawhney, Vikram Malhotra, Namrata Sharma ( General Secretaries PCC); Shri Anil Chopra President DCC Jammu (Urban ), Kuldip Raj Verma, Th. Shiv Dev Singh, Girdhari Lal Chalotra, Y.V. Sharma, (all Member Executive PCC); Smt. Indu Pawar (Ex-MLA) President Mahila Congress; Neeraj Kundan-President NSUI, Krishan Lal Gupta, Shashi Sharma, Shamsher Singh Chib, , Soba Singh, Nirdosh Sharma, Manjit Singh Jatt, Thomas Khokhar, Ch. Sukhdev, Sanjeev Sharma, S. Gurdarshan Singh (Vice Chairman Minority Deptt. PCC), Gajan Singh, Mian Nazir Ahmed, Hanif Shah (Kishtwar) and others.
While paying tributes Shri Raman Bhalla described Shri Rajiv Gandhi as the architect of Panchayat Raj System in the Country. He fulfilled the dreams of great leaders like Mahatma Gandhi to devolve powers of planning and development to the grass root institutions of democracy, so that the people shape their own destiny as per their needs. He translated the concept of participatory democracy at the grass root levels.
Commenting on the present turmoil that the State is passing through Mr Bhalla maintained that the situation has been totally gone out of control due to mishandling by the Centre and State Government at the initial stage and both the governments are responsible for the present situation. He questioned withdrawal of today's Bandh Call by Chamber of Commerce & Industries Jammu, who has toed its line with BJP under whose pressure, the Bandh Call was withdrawn and added that the unholy alliance of PDP-BJP is the root cause of present situation of the State. He said the Chamber of Commerce & Industries is an independent body and its basic concept is to serve the interests of traders of Jammu. Presently, the traders are facing great hardships due to Kashmir turmoil but it was unfortunate that BJP, instead of supporting traders has misguided Chamber of Commerce & Industries. He added that due to the negative roll of BJP, the traders of Jammu had already suffered heavy loss in 2008 agitation. He cautioned the people against BJP and Chamber of Commerce & Industries who played negative roll on the issues of AIIMS and NIIT in Jammu.
Other speakers referred to number of achievements of Shri Gandhi during his leadership and said that country emerged as leader of the World in Information Technology due to vision of Rajiv Ji for the youth, whom he gave a direction for the challenges of 21st Century, which showed his farsightedness. The opposition parties especially BJP leaders had failed to match his vision of Computer and IT and criticized him at that time, they regretted. The time proved that his vision of IT brought a revolution in the day to day life of common people and economic progress of this country.
They said that Shri Rajiv Gandhi had taken a historical decision and lowered the voting age from 21 years to 18 years in order to ensure that the youth of the country also participate in the democratic systems and take lead in politics to serve the nation with young ideas. The speakers also referred the efforts of Shri Rajiv Gandhi to achieve peace in various parts of the Country during his period through dialogue and settled various issues and situations confronting the Country. He was a messenger of peace & harmony and they asked partymen to follow his ideals.
The meeting was attended by the functionaries of Frontal Organizations, DCC, Block and Ward Presidents and a large number of party workers.
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