TRIBUTE

Blood Donation Camp By Youth Congress

In commemoration of the 57th birth anniversary of Bharat Ratna Rajiv Gandhi, the Indian Youth Congress (IYC) organised on 20th August a blood donation camp at its head office at 5-Raisina Road, New Delhi.

The camp was inaugurated by Congress president, Mrs. Sonia Gandhi, who later congratulated the donors who had turned up in large numbers to mark the occasion. Also present at the camp were senior Congress leaders including, Mr. Oscar Fernandes, Mr. Moti Lal Vora, Mr. Mahavir Prasad, Mr. Anil Shastri, Major Ved Prakash, Mr. Hemanand Biswal and Dr. Yoganand Shastri. The camp was also attended by general secretary IYC, Mr. Anil Bhardwaj and State presidents including Mr. Satvinder Singh Sandhu (Haryana) and Mr. Rajeev Biswal (Orissa).

An exhibition of the paintings of the late leader was organised highlighting his life and work. A 'padyatra' was also organised, which saw the participation of hundreds of IYC workers who marched from Raisina Road to Veer Bhumi under the leadership of president IYC, Mr. Randeep Singh Surjewala.

The party leaders, paid floral tributes at the portrait of the late leader and also planted saplings and distributed sweets in various city hospitals.

Parliamentarians Pay Homage to Rajiv

Lok Sabha Speaker G.M.C. Balayogi, Home Minister, Lal Krishna Advani and Opposition Leader, Mrs. Sonia Gandhi, were among a large number of Parliamentarians who paid floral tributes to former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi on the occasion of his 57th birth anniversary in the historic Central Hall of Parliament on 20th August.

Other prominent persons included Deputy Chairperson of the Rajya Sabha Najma Heptulla, Deputy Speaker of the Lok Sabha P.M. Sayeed, former Speaker Shivraj V Patil, Mr. Pranab Mukherjee, Chief Whip of the Congress Party in the Lok Sabha Priya Ranjan Dasmunshi, former Minister P Upendra, Lok Sabha Secretary General G.C. Malhotra and his Rajya Sabha counterpart R.C. Tripathi. A booklet on Mr. Rajiv Gandhi, brought out by the Lok Sabha Secretariat, was distributed among the distinguished guests.