Rajiv's death anniversary to be a Congress affair

Govt calls for a 'fitting' commemoration of the death anniversary on May 21, which is observed as anti-terrorism day

Former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi's 24th death anniversary ceremony at Vir Bhumi, here, on Thursday might for the first time be a wholly Congress-organised affair. The government has called for a "fitting" commemoration of the death anniversary on May 21, which is observed as anti-terrorism day.

"You are requested to organise appropriate programmes, including the pledge-taking ceremony, to observe the anti- terrorism day in a fitting manner," Joint Secretary in the Union Home Ministry Satpal Chouhan wrote to the chief secretaries of state governments and Union Territories as well as the secretaries of Central ministries. The ministry told the states the objective behind observing the day was to wean youths away from terrorism and violence by highlighting the sufferings of the common people and showing how that is prejudicial to national interest.

The Narendra Modi-led government had after taking charge stopped the convention of commemorating the birth and death anniversaries of former prime ministers.

While Congress leaders have interpreted the move as "political vindictiveness", the government had made it clear it would only be commemorating the birth and death anniversaries of Mahatma Gandhi, at Raj Ghat.

A Congress veteran said, "Even during (Atal Bihari) Vajpayeeji's years as prime minister, he never once missed the ceremony. Not only did his government organise the ceremony, he attended it with several senior Cabinet ministers. The present government is only interested in scoring political points."

The Congress wants to ensure the ceremony is well organised and attended by dignitaries such as President Pranab Mukherjee and the Vice-President Hamid Ansari. Sources said an invite would be sent to Prime Minister Modi, too.

Several meetings have been held at the Congress headquarters, with veterans Motilal Vora, Ahmed Patel and Oscar Fernandes taking charge of the organisational work.

The party wants to prevent the confusion that prevailed over the ceremony last year due to the change in government.

The ceremony on May 21 was announced well in advance by the urban development ministry. Cards were printed and about to be distributed. But the new government took over on May 26. The invites were not distributed. The Congress had to step in at the last moment to ensure the usual dignitaries were present at the ceremony. The President and the Vice-President had attended the event last year but Modi did not.