“Rajiv Gandhi was a great visionary who transformed India by initiating agricultural and industrial reforms, introducing a scientific temper in governance and ushering in the computer age. He was a young and dynamic leader who positioned India on the road to progress” declared veteran Congressman and former Chief Minister of the Union Territory of Puducherry Shri V. Narayanaswamy while delivering the Inaugural Address at the online Zoom Meeting organised by the Rajiv Gandhi Awards Committee, Kuwait to commemorate the 30th Martyrdom Day of former India Prime Minister Shri Rajiv Gandhi on May 21, 2021.
Recalling his close association with Shri Rajiv Gandhi, Shri Narayanaswamy who was a Central Minister in the two UPA Governments including Dr. Manmohan Singh’s Cabinet, said “My political life started with Rajiv Gandhi when I was a young 30 year old lawyer. I was asked to come to New Delhi by Shri Rajiv Gandhi in 1985 and despite the availability of several senior leaders he nominated me to the Rajya Sabha despite my lack of experience either in the State Assembly or in Parliament. Rajiv Gandhi methodically groomed several leaders and tasked them with huge responsibility”.
Shri Narayanaswamy was the President of the Puducherry Congress Committee, General Secretary of the Congress Party, Member of the Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha before he took over as the Chief Minister of Puducherry from 2016 to early 2021. “Shri Rajiv Gandhi inducted several young talent into Congress politics and I was a member of the Rajya Sabha for a historic three terms which was unheard off. As a Central Minister in the PMO I was in-charge of the CBI, Department of Personnel, Space, Atomic Energy and India Administrative Service (IAS)” Shri Narayanaswamy stated.
“India’s foreign policy shaped by Shri Rajiv Gandhi led to excellent rapport with major powers and our neighbours. India found its rightful and respectful place among the comity of nations,” Shri Narayanaswamy emphasized.
“I was privileged to work closely with Shri Rajiv Gandhi. One aspect of Rajiv Gandhi which stands out was his willingness to accept responsibility for any wrong decisions. He was a man who was always true to his word. In my nearly 40 years of public life I have always been a loyalist of the Congress Party and the Gandhi family. Today I am honoured to speak on the occasion of Rajiv Gandhi’s 30th Martyrdom Day and interacting with all of you,” Shri Narayanaswamy concluded.
Other speakers who paid rich tributes to Shri Rajiv Gandhi included Mr N.R. Sampath, former Chief General Manager of State Bank of India and KIECO, Dr. Saguber Ali, President of Kuwait Rahul Jan Seva and Chairman of GMS Group of Companies and Dr. Sekhar Bonthapuri, Archbishop – Kuwait Lutheran Evangelical Church.
The Zoom Meeting was inspiringly conducted by Miss Irene Kurian, Anchor and Social Activist who also administered the ANTI TERRORISM PLEDGE to all participants which calls for “Working for the emotional oneness and harmony of all the people of India regardless of caste, creed, religion or language and resolution of all differences through constitutional means without resorting to violence”.
In his concluding remarks, Markos Williams, Chairman of the Rajiv Gandhi Awards Committee quoted Rajiv Gandhi who said, “The prism of geography may color our peoples differently. But in the white light we are one humanity”. He thanked the Chief Guest Shri V Narayanaswamy and all participants from Kuwait and India for their presence.