Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday paid his tributes to former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi on his 79th birth anniversary. ”On his birth anniversary, my tributes to former PM Shri Rajiv Gandhi Ji,” PM Modi said in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Rajiv Gandhi was born on August 20, 1944. The Congress leader was India’s youngest prime minister, who held office during 1984-89. He was assassinated by a LTTE suicide bomber during a public event in Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu, on May 21, 1991.

Earlier in the morning, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Congress Parliamentary Party (CPP) chairperson Sonia Gandhi had paid rich tributes to Rajiv Gandhi on his birth anniversary at ‘Veer Bhumi’ here in the national capital.

Top party leaders Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and K C Venugopal were also present on the occasion.

Meanwhile, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi who is currently in Ladakh, also paid floral tribute to his father by a gleaming Pangong Tso lake on an overcast Sunday morning.

Speaking to reporters after laying floral tributes to a framed photograph of the former PM, Rahul recalled a conversation with his father in which Rajiv Gandhi told him that Pangong Tso is the most beautiful place on earth.

“I remember, when I was small, my father once returned from a visit to Pangong Tso and showed me some pictures of the lake. He told me that this is the most beautiful place on earth. During the ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’, I was scheduled to come to Ladkah but because of some logistical reasons, the visit had to be shelved. So I thought of a visit later and a longer stay here. I will also be visiting the Nubra Valley and Kargil,” said Rahul Gandhi.

During his visit, Rahul was accompanied by Vikar Rasool Wani, president of the Jammu & Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee and several other party officials and workers.

Earlier, in a post on the social media platform ‘X’, Rahul Gandhi wrote, “Papa, the dreams you had for India are shown from these priceless memories. Your mark is my way – understanding the struggles and dreams of every Indian, listening to the voice of Mother India.” Rahul embarked on a bike ride to Pangong Tso in Ladakh on Saturday.