Tributes paid to Indira Gandhi

NEW DELHI, Oct 31 (UNI) — The nation today paid tributes to former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on her 15th death anniversary. President K.R. Narayanan and Vice-President Krishan Kant led the nation in paying homage to the slain Prime Minister. Prominent among others who paid tributes were Congress President Sonia Gandhi.

Mrs Sonia Gandhi (left) & President K.R. Narayanan and Mrs Usha Narayanan (right) pay tribute to late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on her death anniversary at Shakti Sthal in New Delhi on Sunday. — PTI

Special all-religion prayers were organised at ‘Shakti Sthal’, the samadhi of the former Prime Minister, and at No 1, Safdar Jung Road, the official residence where Mrs Gandhi fell victim to the bullets of her securitymen.

Maharashtra joined the nation in paying tributes to Indira Gandhi.

People from all walks of life throughout the state joined hands to pay homage to the slain leaders. Several functions were organised by political parties, schools and government offices to mark the day.

At a function organised at the state secretariat in Mumbai, Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh garlanded a portrait of Mrs Indira Gandhi. He was joined by his Deputy Chhagan Bhujbal and other Cabinet colleagues. Separate functions were also organised at the MPCC headquarters and Mumbai Regional Congress Committee office.

CHENNAI: The 15th death anniversary of Indira Gandhi was observed on Sunday with solemnity by the Tamil Nadu Government and political parties in the state.

An official function to mark ‘national rededication day’ was held at Villupuram in which Transport Minister K. Ponmudi participated and distributed prizes to students in an elocution contest on national integration.

Information Minister V. Mullaivendan unveiled a portrait of Indira Gandhi and offered floral tributes.

In Chennai, TNCC president Tindivanam K. Ramamurthee and other office-bearers garlanded a statue of the slain leader in the city and offered tributes to her portrait at the TNCC headquarters.

Reports from the region
From Tribune Reporters

SHIMLA, Oct 31 — Glowing tributes were paid to Indira Gandhi, former Prime Minister, on her death anniversary here today.

Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, Chief Minister, garlanded her statue at The Ridge.

Mr Virbhadra Singh, former Chief Minister, Dr Rajan Sushant, Minister of State for Revenue, Mr Karan Singh, Minister of State for Primary Education, Mr Praveen Sharma, Minister of State for Youth Services and Sports, and Mr Manoj Kumar, Mayor, Shimla Municipal Corporation, also paid floral tributes on the occasion.

A function was also held in the Congress headquarters.

HOSHIARPUR: Tributes were paid to Indira Gandhi by Mr Naresh Thakur former Deputy Speaker, Punjab Vidhan Sabha, Chaudhary Ram Rattan, Vice-President, Mr Kuldip Nand, general secretary of the DCC and many other Congress leaders.

ABOHAR: Tributes were paid to Indira Gandhi at a meeting attended by Congress workers at Jakhar Building at New Grain Market here. Mr Hans Raj Arya, former MLA. Mr Sudhir Nagpal, general secretary, District Congress Committee, Mr Vimal Thathai, leader of the Opposition in local municipal council, Mr Sat Narain Singla, former treasurer and Mr Subhash Gupta, former press secretary of the DCC, were among those who paid floral tributes to the departed leader.

FAZILKA: Activists of the Youth Congress and the block Congress committee here observed 15th death anniversary of late Prime Minister Mrs Indira Gandhi as sacrifice day on Sunday. Dr Mohinder Kumar Rinwa, former MLA and secretary, Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee, Suresh Walia, presidents of block Congress committee participated in a programme held at the local Sanjay Gandhi memorial park.

A two minutes silence was observed in memory of Mrs Gandhi. Party activists took pledge to preserve amity and unity of country. Other party leaders also paid rich tributes to Mrs Gandhi. Earlier the activists took out a "prabhat pheri" shouting slogans of Indira Gandhi.

SONEPAT: Large number of Congress workers participated in the "prabhat pheri" taken out in connection with the death anniversary of the former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. Tributes were paid to the departed leader at a meeting held later.

KAITHAL: Rich tributes were paid to Indira Gandhi at a function organised at the Mini Secretariat here on Sunday. The Deputy Commissioner, Dr Mahaveer Singh, who presided over the function urged people to take inspiration from the sacrifice made by her to safeguard the national unity and communal harmony.

The SP, Mr K.K. Sharma, the DPRO, Mr Rajbir Singh and other officers of the district administration were also present.