{
  "id": 2090546,
  "title": "Rajiv Gandhi helped prepare India for promise of 21st century, says Congress",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/20/rajiv-gandhi-helped-prepare-india-for-promise-of-21st-century-says",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-20T07:03:21.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Hindu",
    "slug": "the-hindu",
    "url": "https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/rajiv-gandhi-birth-anniversary-tributes/article71367965.ece"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "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.",
  "summary": "“Perhaps the most meaningful tribute to Rajiv Ji would be to strengthen India's timeless spirit of empathy, harmony and reconciliation, while nurturing intellectual freedom, innovation and the aspirations of our young people,” Mallikarjun Kharge said",
  "key_points": [
    "Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge praised Rajiv Gandhi's legacy on his 82nd birthday.",
    "Gandhi championed youth, technology, and new ideas for India's future.",
    "National Youth Day declared in 1988 under Gandhi's leadership."
  ],
  "editors_take": "Rajiv Gandhi's legacy continues to shape India's development trajectory, marked by his emphasis on youth empowerment, technological progress, and education reform, which Congress sees as crucial to the country's future.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}