'Papa, I'll Fully Shoulder...': Rahul Gandhi Shares Childhood Photo In Emotional Tribute To Rajiv Gandhi

'Papa, I'll Fully Shoulder...': Rahul Gandhi Shares Childhood Photo In Emotional Tribute To Rajiv Gandhi Published By, Last Updated: May 21, 2026, 11:34 IST Rahul Gandhi paid an emotional tribute to his father Rajiv Gandhi on his 35th death anniversary, saying he would carry forward his vision of a "skilled and strong India". Rahul Gandhi pays tribute to father Rajiv Gandhi (Photos: X/Rahul Gandhi) Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Thursday paid an emotional tribute to his father and former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi on his 35th death anniversary, sharing a heartfelt message on X along with a personal photograph from his childhood. In his post, Rahul Gandhi wrote, “Papa, I will fully shoulder the responsibility of realising the dream of a skilled, prosperous, and strong India that you envisioned. Your teachings, your values, and your memories will always remain with me." The Congress leader also shared two photographs in the post. One of the images was a childhood photograph featuring Rahul Gandhi with Rajiv Gandhi, showing a more personal moment between father and son, underlining the emotional tone of the tribute. The post came as Congress leaders across the country remembered Rajiv Gandhi on his martyrdom day and paid tributes at his memorial, Vir Bhumi, in the national capital. CONGRESS LEADERS PAY HOMAGE AT VIR BHUMI Earlier in the day, Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi and Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra visited Vir Bhumi to offer floral tributes to Rajiv Gandhi. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra’s children, Miraya and Raihan Vadra, were also present during the homage ceremony. Several senior Congress leaders, including Ashok Gehlot, P Chidambaram, Bhupinder Singh Hooda and Mukul Wasnik, also paid their respects. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also remembered the former Prime Minister in a brief tribute posted on X. “Tributes to former Prime Minister Shri Rajiv Gandhi Ji on his death anniversary," PM Modi wrote. KHARGE RECALLS RAJIV GANDHI’S LEGACY Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge described Rajiv Gandhi as a “remarkable son of India" and highlighted several reforms introduced during his tenure as Prime Minister. In a detailed X post, Kharge credited Rajiv Gandhi with lowering the voting age to 18, strengthening Panchayati Raj institutions, pushing India’s telecom and information technology revolution, promoting computerisation and introducing a forward-looking education policy. Quoting the former Prime Minister, Kharge wrote, “India is an old country but a young nation… I dream of India — strong, independent, self-reliant and in the front rank of the nations of the world, in the service of mankind." He further said Rajiv Gandhi’s “vision, courage, and deep belief in India’s future" laid the foundation for the country’s journey into the 21st century. “India is an old country but a young nation… I dream of India — strong, independent, self-reliant and in the front rank of the nations of the world, in the service of mankind."~ Rajiv Gandhi On his martyrdom day, we pay our deepest respects to Prime Minister and… pic.twitter.com/fiwP4nvDBr — Mallikarjun Kharge (@kharge) May 21, 2026 ‘SYMBOL OF HOPE FOR YOUTH’: HOODA Speaking to the media at Vir Bhumi, Bhupinder Singh Hooda said Rajiv Gandhi represented hope for India’s youth and reflected on the sacrifices made by the Gandhi family. “Rajiv Gandhi was about to become the PM again before he was assassinated. He was doing everything he could for India. He was a symbol of hope for the Indian youth, who looked up to him," Hooda said. He added that from Motilal Nehru to Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi, the Gandhi family had made sacrifices “for the sake of the country and not for their own selfish needs." ASHOK GEHLOT HAILS RAJIV GANDHI’S ‘21ST CENTURY’ VISION Senior Congress leader Ashok Gehlot also praised Rajiv Gandhi’s emphasis on science, technology and youth empowerment. “Rajiv Gandhi was the first person to talk about the 21st Century in that era. He believed that people should prepare themselves for the new century," Gehlot said. He also referred to Rajiv Gandhi’s push for giving 18-year-olds the right to vote, saying the former Prime Minister believed young people would shape the future of India. Rajiv Gandhi became India’s youngest Prime Minister at the age of 40 after taking office in October 1984 following the assassination of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. He served as Prime Minister until December 1989. Born on August 20, 1944, Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated on May 21, 1991, during an election rally in Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu, in a suicide bombing carried out by the LTTE. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit First Published: May 21, 2026, 11:34 IST News india 'Papa, I'll Fully Shoulder...': Rahul Gandhi Shares Childhood Photo In Emotional Tribute To Rajiv Gandhi Disclaim