President unveils memorial to Rajiv Gandhi

The Rajiv Gandhi memorial at Sriperumbudur, on the spot at which India's former prime minister was assassinated on May 21, 1991, was dedicated to the nation by President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, at a ceremony on Friday.

Rajiv's widow and Opposition leader and Congress President Sonia Gandhi, along with son Rahul, daughter Priyanka and son-in-law Robert Vadra, and almost all the Congress chief ministers, attended the ceremony.

The hour-long function, was marked by chantings of verses from different religious scriptures.

The president dedicated the Rs 211.5 million memorial, built by the central public works department (cpwd), by unveiling a portrait of Rajiv Gandhi at the spot and paying floral tribute. Deviating from the scheduled programme, the president, in a rare gesture, recited a specially written prayer asking God to impart wisdom on the nation's population, religious and political leaders so that they follow the path of righteousness and strive to keep the country's unity and communal harmony.

The slain leader's family members who also paid floral tribute at the memorial, later broke the heavy security cordon to shake hands with the surging crowd of partymen.

Apart from Union Minister of State for Urban Development, Bangaru Dattatreya representing the central government, DMK's Central Minister T.R. Baalu was also present.

Later the President took part in the the silver jubilee celebrations of the Medical Research Foundation, Sankara Netralaya. Speaking on the occasion, he asked medical experts to focus attention on eyecare for children.

- With inputs from PTI