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Copyright (C) 2001 Kasturi & Sons Ltd (KSL); Source: World Reporter (TM) - Asia Intelligence Wire
NEW DELHI, MAY 21. The President, Mr. K. R. Narayanan, today led the nation in paying homage to the former Prime Minister, Mr. Rajiv Gandhi, on his 10th death anniversary which saw people across the country re-dedicate themselves to the vision he had of India in the 21st Century.
Mr. Narayanan was among early visitors at Rajiv Gandhi's samadhi at Vir Bhumi here this morning. He went around the samadhi and offered floral tributes as did the Vice-President, Mr. Krishan Kant.
Others present at the samadhi included the Congress(I) president, Ms. Sonia Gandhi, and the Chief Ministers of Delhi, Chhattisgarh and Kerala, Ms. Sheila Dikshit, Mr. Ajit Jogi and Mr. A. K. Antony, respectively. Also present were Ms. Gandhi's daughter and son-in-law, Ms. Priyanka Vadra and Mr. Robert Vadra. After offering floral tributes, they attended a short ceremony at the samadhi.
While party workers visited the samadhi to offer tributes, they also got together to organise blood donation camps. Since the day is also observed as Anti-Terrorism Day, people pledged to work for national integration at various functions organised to mark the day.
The All-India Mahila Congress(I) organised an all-religion prayer meeting at Akbar Road in the evening. A musical tribute was paid by Ms. Suman Devgan - a product of the Rampur Sahaswan and Delhi gharanas - on the occasion.
Elsewhere in the Capital, the Speaker of the Delhi Legislative Assembly, Chaudhury Prem Singh, recalled the contributions of Rajiv Gandhi at a function organised in Ambedkar Nagar. He also led the employees of the Assembly Secretariat in taking a pledge to fight terrorism and the forces seeking to disintegrate the country.
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