Kohima, May 21 (MExN): Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) observed the 25th death anniversary of Bharat Ratna Rajiv Gandhi at Congress Bhavan, Kohima today.
NPCC President, K. Therie recalled his meeting with Rajiv Gandhi as a member of the NPCC delegate when he and Sonia Gandhi came to Dimapur on May 18, 1991. He said Rajiv Gandhi listened intently to a detailed account of the Naga political problem and responded saying there is no difficulty to offer talks without preconditions, a press release from Media Cell, NPCC informed. The following day on May 19, 1991, he offered talks without preconditions if voted to power, Therie added.
However, two days later his life was cut short when he was assassinated at Sriperambudur near Chennai. “Perhaps, the biggest loss was for the Nagas,” Therie said, continuing, “I trusted that he would have solved the Naga political problem the way he solved the Mizoram and anti-Sikh problems”. Therie said that though Rajiv Gandhi is no more, his visions for the nation will live on with Congress men and women. “We convey our feelings to Madam Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi that they will take forward the visions of Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi had for the Nagas.”
NPCC Media Committee Chairman Capt. GK Zhimomi, who presented the biography of Late Rajiv Gandhi, said he was fortunate to have met the tall statesman when he was a student in Zunheboto. Stating that Rajiv’s foresightedness in policy making had liberalised India’s economy, he said Modi’s Digital India is the fruits of Rajiv’s policies on education, communications and information technology which he revolutionized with the help of Sam Pitroda. Zhimomi also said it was during Rajiv’s time that the voting age in India was reduced from 21 years to 18 years expressing confidence on the young generations of the nation through the 61st Amendment to the Constitution of India.
Working President, NPCC, Ayang Aonok also recounted his meetings with Late Rajiv Gandhi when he was the President of NSF.
