Tripura Congress leaders gathered in the state capital to commemorate the birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi with solemnity and respect. The event commenced with the hoisting of the party’s organizational flags, followed by the ceremonial garlanding of the statue of Rajiv Gandhi, the youngest prime minister of India and a recipient of the Bharat Ratna award. Wreaths were laid by state leaders, including members from Pradesh Congress’s affiliated organizations.
Addressing the press, Pradesh Congress President Asish Kumar Saha reflected on the significant contributions made by India’s 7th prime minister to the Indian National Congress and the nation as a whole. Saha recalled Rajiv Gandhi’s visionary dreams for India – a country that is strong, self-reliant, independent, and a prominent player on the global stage, working for the betterment of humanity.
Saha, while criticizing the present BJP-led central government, expressed concerns about the country’s developmental trajectory. He noted that Rajiv Gandhi’s era marked a true dedication to India’s growth, while under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s BJP, there has been a regression in terms of democratic rights and development.
Congress MLA Sudip Roy Barman, speaking during the event, emphasized the importance of supporting Congress for those who wish to see genuine national development. He urged people who care about the nation’s progress to unite behind the Congress banner, which he believed could reinstate democracy and safeguard citizens’ constitutional rights.
In response to queries about the upcoming by-elections in Tripura for the Boxanagar and Dhanpur seats, Barman clarified that there had been no requests or discussions from the Left leaders regarding Congress’s involvement in their campaign. He highlighted that district-level Congress leaders were sufficiently capable of handling the by-elections, asserting that the state-level leaders’ participation was unnecessary.
Notably, on the occasion of Rajiv Gandhi’s birth anniversary, a former member of the ruling BJP, Sanjib Bhattacharjee, along with his supporters, joined the Congress. Pradesh Congress leaders Asish Kumar Saha and Sudip Roy Barman welcomed Bhattacharjee and handed him the Congress flag. The leaders encouraged other former Congress members to return to the party fold, stressing the need for unity among leaders, members, and activists, especially considering the current state of democracy under the BJP regime.
As part of the celebrations, the Pradesh Congress leadership paid their respects at the Shaheed Bedi in Gandhi Ghat, followed by a procession in the Circuit House area of the state capital, commemorating “Sadbhavna Diwas” (Harmony Day) with the theme of “Drugs-Free Tripura.” This event aimed to emphasize the importance of unity and a drug-free society for the state’s progress.