Father taught me to love and respect all: Rahul Gandhi
New Delhi, May 21: Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Monday remembered his father and former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi on his 27th death anniversary saying it was he who taught him to love and respect all beings.
Rahul Gandhi in a tweet on Monday said: "My father taught me that hate is a prison for those who carry it. Today, on his death anniversary, I thank him for teaching me to love and respect all beings, the most valuable gift a father can give a son."
Sharing a photo of the former Prime Minister, he wrote, "Rajiv Gandhi, those of us that love you hold you forever in our hearts."
Earlier the Congress chief along with his mother Sonia Gandhi and sister Priyanka Gandhi and her husband Robert Vadra visited the Veer Bhumi to pay a floral tribute.
Congress leaders, including former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Leader of the party in Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge also paid homage to Rajiv Gandhi's memorial.
Former President and a longtime party member Pranab Mukherjee was also present.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee tweeted: "Solemnly and very fondly remembering former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi on his death anniversary."
Rajiv Gandhi was killed by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in Sriperumbudur in Tamil Nadu on May 21, 1991.
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Fan tries to die by suicide over Nikhil Kumaraswamy's bypoll loss
Bengaluru: Channapatna JD(S) candidate Nikhil Kumaraswamy, who lost the byelection to C.P. Yogeshwar of Congress, on Sunday consoled a fan who reportedly attempted to end his life and requested him not to repeat such acts.
Manjunath, fondly called Abhi, had even penned a letter before taking the dangerous step. Nikhil, who called on Manjunath at the latter’s home in Kudloor in Channapatna, expressed shock and sadness over the incident.
Nikhil Kumaraswamy reassured Manjunath, expressing his support during the difficult time. He told him that he was deeply troubled to learn of this incident and emphasised that he would stand by him. Nikhil also promised to offer assistance in any way he could, including helping him secure employment opportunities in the future, as reported by the Deccan Herald.
He also reminded Manjunath of the importance of his children’s well-being, urging him to focus on their future. “Please, look at the faces of your growing children. Even I have a three-year-old son. The children are young, let us take care of their future also. I will arrange some job opportunities for you. I might not be an MLA but this is a challenge. I will get you employed,” he said.
Nikhil told media persons that he is extremely hurt more by Manjunath’s attempt to die than by his loss in the election. “At 7:30 a.m., we got a message that in Valetoopu, Manjunath had consumed poison yesterday. In Channapatna, our workers and leaders have built this party with zeal. Let the admiration be there in your hearts but if it crosses the line, your families get hurt and we get very pained by it,” he was quoted as saying by the publication.
Speaking of his byelection loss, Nikhil reiterated that the JD(S) had got its traditional votes, but that the votes of a particular community went against the party.
“Deve Gowda gave reservation to a community. We tried our last attempt to take that community into confidence. But they conveyed to us that they do not require us. In future, we will take other communities into confidence,” he remarked in a veiled reference to Muslims.
Nikhil lost the election by a margin of 25,413 votes to Congress candidate C.P. Yogeshwar.
