Rajiv Gandhi helped prepare India for promise of 21st century, says Congress

On August 20, 2026, the Congress party paid tribute to former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi on his 82nd birth anniversary. Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge highlighted that Gandhi's legacy endures in the transformative changes he championed and his faith in India's youth, technological progress, and new ideas. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also honored Gandhi on his birth anniversary.

Congress leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge, Sonia Gandhi, and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, laid floral tributes at Gandhi's memorial Veer Bhumi. Kharge emphasized the importance of strengthening India's spirit of empathy, harmony, and reconciliation, as well as nurturing intellectual freedom and innovation among young people.

The Congress chief recalled Gandhi's role in lowering the voting age to 18, declaring January 12 as National Youth Day, and launching the New Education Policy of 1988, which established the Navodaya Vidyalayas nationwide. Congress general secretary for communications Jairam Ramesh also noted Gandhi's leadership in preparing India for the IT era, which created millions of new employment opportunities.