Shadow Correspondent
Jammu, Aug 20
JKPCC held an impressive function at JK Plaza, Gandhinagar Jammu today to celebrate the 75th birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. The function was attended by several senior leaders of PCC, functionaries of Dist. Congress Committee, Blocks and Frontal Organizations. They include Shri Madan Lal Sharma (Ex-MP), Shri Tara Chand ( former Dy C.M. ), Shri Mula Ram ( former Minister & Vice President PCC) Smt. Kanta Bhan, Shri Jugal Kishore Sharma, Mr. Ravinder Sharma (Chief Spokesperson) , General Secretaries Th. Manmohan Singh, Shah Mohd. Choudhary, Namrata Sharma, Smt. Indu Pawar (Mahila Congress President); Shri Vikram Malhotra (DCC President Jammu Urban), Dist. President Kathua Dr. Manohar Lal Sharma, Dist. President Samba Sdr. Manjit Singh; Ex-MLAs Th. Shiv Dev Singh, Ashok Sharma & Ch. Gharu Ram.
Former Minister & Vice President JKPCC Shri Raman Bhalla presided over the function.
Paying floral tributes to Shri Rajiv Gandhi PCC leaders described him as the Architect of 21st Century, who prepared the youth of the Country for the future challenges in the modern world, especially IT and Computer revolution, lowering of voting age from 21 years to 18 years and a vibrant Panchayat Raj system in the Country. Shri Raman Bhalla said that it was vision of Late Rajiv Gandhi that he foresaw the future of the Country in preparing and educating youth of the Country for the 21st Century. He saw great opportunity in the IT revolution and introduced computerization in late eighties. The opposition especially BJP leaders termed him as a “Computer Boy”. Today they talk of digital India, which became possible due to the efforts of Rajiv Gandhi. He said that Rajiv Gandhi lowered the voting age to 18 years to ensure the participation of youth in the democratic & political process and emergence of young leadership. The vibrant Panchayat Raj System with 33% reservation to women and due reservation to SC/STs has ensured the transfer of power to the people. He said that 73rd / 74th amendment was introduced and incorporated into the Panchayats & Urban bodies to establish elected three tier system in the state by the efforts of Congress in the previous coalition of NC-Congress in 2014. Speaking on the occasion Shri Tara Chand described Rajiv Gandhi as a visionary leader who led the nation to great achievements in various fields. He will be remembered for his youth policy to prepare them for the present day challenges. It was his efforts that India has emerged as leader in IT sector. Shri Madan Lal Sharma recalled the services and contributions made by the leader and stated that the era of under Rajiv Gandhi as Prime Minister was the best of his times with regards to the development and involvement of masses at very grass root level i.e. Panchayati Raj, Local Self Government, special inputs on the participation of the youth by lowering the age of voting to 18 years from 21 years.
Shri Mula Ram paid glowing tributes to Rajiv Gandhi by describing him as a young dynamic leader of the nation, who gave direction to the youth of the Country and brought about revolutionary step to strengthen democracy at grass root level. He asked the youth to follow the path shown by great leader. Th. Balwan Singh described Rajiv Gandhi a visionary leader. He also referred to his vision to ensure 33% representation and reservation to women in Panchayati Raj Institutions. Shri Jugal Kishore Sharma referred to the anti-defection law passed by Shri Rajiv Gandhi to check political corruption and mal practices in addition to other milestone to bring normalcy in Punjab, Kashmir, Mizoram by effectively undertaking the accords with local leaders on aspirations of local masses. He said that Congress would always follow the path shown by great leaders of Congress like Rajiv Gandhi.
Mr. Ravinder Sharma described Rajiv Gandhi as a great visionary who was instrumental in bringing about the IT revolution to prepare the youth for the challenges of 21st century. He strengthened democracy at grass root level by 73rd and 74th amendments.
Th. Manmohan Singh described Shri Rajiv Gandhi an able administrator and real well wisher of the masses and true nationalist with a clear vision to take the country to 21st century. He was a young and dynamic leader whose life was cut short by the antinational forces.
Shri Vikram Malhotra in his address recalled the services such as Panchayati Raj, Local self Govt. and anti-defection law. Computerization Information Technology etc., also urged the gathering to be prepared for fight against the false propaganda being made by the BJP to cover up their anti Jammu stand and to harm the true nationalistic picture of the congress, made by its great leaders, during 60 years regime of Congress party.
Other Prominent leaders who attended the function included Th. Maheshwar Singh, Vinod Sharma, Rajesh Sadotra (Seva Dal), Suresh Dogra (OBC), K.K. Pangotra (Legal Dept.), S.Gurdarshan Singh ( Minority Dept.); PCC Secretaries Pawan Raina, Krishan Lal Gupta, Sdr. Harvinder Singh Mehta, Narinder Sharma, Ch. Sukhdev Singh, Neeraj Gupta, Sanjeev Pandha, Satish Sharma; Corporators Dwarka Choudhary, Gourav Chopra, Kamal Singh, Rajinder Singh and Pritam Singh; Dr. R.K. Khajuria, Madan Lal Malagar, S. Gajan Singh, Ms. Tamana, Bodh Raj Bhagat, Pawan Dev Singh, Ram Prakash Magotra, Som Dutt Sharma, Kulbushan Sharma, Pawan Sharma, J.L. Koul and others.
