In pictures — Top Congress leaders pay tribute to Rajiv Gandhi on his 75th birth anniversary

The Gandhi family and Congress party marked Rajiv Gandhi's 75th birth anniversary as 'Sadbhavana Diwas'.

Sonia Gandhi, who was recently re-elected as Congress president, attends a prayer meeting marking the 75th birth anniversary of her late husband and PM Rajiv Gandhi | Photo: Praveen Jain | ThePrint

New Delhi: Senior Congress leaders, including party’s interim president Sonia Gandhi, former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and former President Pranab Mukherjee, paid tributes to Rajiv Gandhi on his 75th birth anniversary Tuesday.

The Congress, while remembering the former prime minister, said his dream was to make India a formidable force in the 21st century.

“India’s strength lies in its unity and diversity. As we remember Shri Rajiv Gandhi on his 75th birth anniversary, we must also remember that his words are now more relevant than ever. We must never allow communal madness to break the bond of unity among us all. #SadbhavanaDiwas,” the Congress wrote on its official Twitter handle.

At a prayer meeting organised at ‘Veer Bhumi’, the memorial of Rajiv Gandhi, former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi and party general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also paid homage along with other family members. A host of Congress leaders also attended the ceremony.

Rajiv Gandhi’s daughter Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, who is the latest in the Gandhi family to join politics, wrote: “From my father, I learned how to listen to people’s stories and find a place in my heart for them no matter how contrary to mine they might be. #RajivGandhi75 #SadbhavanaDiwas,” on Twitter | Photo: Praveen Jain | ThePrint

Rahul Gandhi, who recently stepped down as Congress president, with his sister Priyanka’s family, including brother-in-law Robert Vadra, niece Miraya and nephew Raihan | Photo: Praveen Jain | ThePrint

Rahul (centre) remembered his father as a patriot and a visionary whose far-sighted policies helped build India. “To me, he was a loving father who taught me never to hate, to forgive and to love all beings,” he tweeted | Photo: Praveen Jain | ThePrint

Bharat Ratna award winner and former President Pranab Mukherjee (extreme right) greets other dignitaries at the prayer meet, which included former PM Manmohan Singh (extreme left) | Photo: Praveen Jain | ThePrint

Mohammad Hamid Ansari, former vice president of India, was also in attendance | Photo: Praveen Jain | ThePrint

Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tributes to his predecessor on Twitter. Modi during his election campaigns had, however, hit out at Rajiv Gandhi, calling him a corrupt politician | Photo: Praveen Jain | ThePrint

Congress leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda (right) had a quick word with Ahmed Patel, MP and close political aide of Sonia Gandhi. A two-time Haryana chief minister, Hooda has been in the news in the past few days after he declared himself a chief ministerial candidate and claimed the party is not what it once was | Photo: Praveen Jain | ThePrint

Senior Congress leader and former MP Jagdish Tytler was also present at the prayer meet in New Delhi | Photo: Praveen Jain | ThePrint

At the prayer meet, an audio clip from one of Rajiv Gandhi’s speeches and the devotional song ‘Vaishnava Jan To’ were played in the background. Congress plans on hosting various activities this week and observe the occasion as ‘Sadbhavana Diwas’ | Photo: Praveen Jain | ThePrint