New Delhi: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh led the nation in paying homage to the late Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi on his 62nd birth anniversary on Sunday.
Singh offered flowers at Vir Bhoomi, memorial of Rajiv Gandhi, and stood in silence for a few seconds in memory of the late leader who became the country's youngest Prime Minister at the age of 40.
Congress President Sonia Gandhi and her children Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Vadra, Home Minister Shivraj Patil and a host of other dignitaries also paid floral tributes to the former premier.
Devotional music rent the air as scores of political leaders and Congress workers remembered the late leader for his services to the nation.
The Prime Minister and Congress President later paid floral tributes to the potrait of Rajiv Gandhi in the Central hall of Parliament.
Home Minister Shivraj Patil, union ministers Kapil Sibal, Mahabir Prasad, Priyaranjan Dasmunsi, Political secretary to Congress Chief Ahmed Patel and party treasurer Moti Lal Vora were among others who paid tributes.
Later Sonia Gandhi inaugurated a new five-storey building of the Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee named "Rajiv Bhawan".
AICC general secretaries Ashok Gehlot, Janardhan Dwiwedi, Union Ministers Sibal, Ajay Maken, Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit and several of her cabinet colleagues, were also present on the occasion.
After inaugurating the building which would house Delhi Units of the party including its Student, Youth and Mahila wing, Sonia interacted with office bearers and other party leaders in the building.
She also interacted with larger number of party workers assembled on the occasion.
Sonia also distributed 23 PCO-fitted tricyles to disabled persons at her residence and released thousands of baloons carrying pictures of Rajiv. She also inaugurated a free dental camp at the AICC headquarters.
At another function, AICC treasurer Motilal Vora described Rajiv Gandhi as a visionary who had dreamt of a developed India in 21st century.
"He is the first Prime Minister who had said that when India will enter 21st century, the whole world will be amazed to see the progress in the country. People did not pay much importance to what he said at that time. But today, the reality shows that India is far ahead than other countries in many areas in the knowledge-driven era," he said.
A photographic exhibition on the life and work of Rajiv Gandhi was organised by DAVP at AICC office on the occasion.
About 125 photographs covering the activities of Rajiv Gandhi from childhood to his last journey have been displayed in the exhibition which will continue for three days.
In Chandigarh, local leaders paid tributes to the late leader at a function organised at the Congress Bhavan.
In Lucknow, state Congress president Salman Khursheed garlanded the statue of Rajiv Gandhi and an all religion recital programme was organised at the UPCC office.
Union Minister of state for steel and mines Akhilesh Das, while addressing a function in Sultanpur, said Rajiv was a visionary who helped the country in taking strides on the path of development.
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