Himachal CM Sukhu pays tributes to Rajiv Gandhi on 35th death anniversary

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu paid tributes to former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi on his 35th death anniversary, highlighting his contributions to India's IT revolution and women's reservation.

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Thursday paid tributes to former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi on his 35th death anniversary, which is observed as National Anti-Terrorism Day, at the Sadbhawana Chowk here, officials said.

Interacting with the media, Sukhu said the Congress lost two of its prime ministers, Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi, in the fight against terrorism.

Recalling the contributions of the late Congress leader, the chief minister said that during his tenure as the prime minister, Rajiv Gandhi laid the foundation for the information technology revolution in India, which transformed the nation's technological and communication landscape.

Rajiv Gandhi also pioneered the movement for a 33 per cent reservation for women in Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) and local bodies to strengthen their participation and leadership in the development process, Sukhu said.

Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated by a female suicide bomber of the LTTE in Tamil Nadu's Sriperumbudur on May 21, 1991. He was 46.

He served as India's prime minister from October 31, 1984, to December 2, 1989.