Tribute to Rajiv Gandhi commemorating his joint peace rally at Charminar

TPCC President Mahesh Goud, Irrigation Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy and other Congress leaders at the Rajiv Gandhi Sadbhavana Yatra memorial meet at Charminar on October 19, 2026. | Photo credit: Special arrangement

On Monday (October 19, 2026), Congress leaders paid tribute to the late Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and his contribution to social harmony in the country at the Rajiv Gandhi Sadbhavana Yatra memorial meet at Charminar.

The gathering has been held every year since 1990 to commemorate former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi’s message of harmony among people and national integration from the Charminar. The program was held under the chairmanship of Irrigation Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy and Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) president and MLC Mahesh Kumar Gouda.

On the occasion, Mr. Goud alleged that attempts were being made to erase the contributions of national leaders like Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru from public memory and rewrite history. The younger generation needed to understand the role played by the Congress in the freedom struggle, he said.

Mr Goud credited Rajiv Gandhi with lowering the voting age to 18 and said his vision also helped lay the groundwork for the wider use of modern technology in India. He said the history of the Congress is intertwined with sacrifice, citing former prime minister Indira Gandhi’s commitment to the country and Sonia Gandhi’s decision to step down as prime minister as examples of the party’s values.

He questioned the BJP’s claim of patriotism and asked whether BJP and RSS leaders had sacrificed even a drop of blood for the country. The Congress, he said, stood for sacrifice and service to the nation.

AICC Secretary Sachin Sawant, AICC Leader Gidugu Rudra Raju, TPCC Vice Presidents, District Congress Committee Presidents, Party General Secretaries and other Congress leaders attended the meeting.

Mr Reddy said a “quiet revolution” under Rahul Gandhi had swept the country, with people increasingly looking for an alternative to the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He said the growing public support for Mr. Rahul Gandhi and the Congress reflected a broader desire for national political change.

Recalling Rajiv Gandhi’s association with Hyderabad through the Sadbhavana Yatra, Mr. Reddy congratulated former PCC president V. Hanumanth Rao and the Rajiv Sadbhavana Awards Committee for maintaining the tradition for over three decades.

In his speech, Mr. Sawant said Rajiv Gandhi’s vision of a modern, self-reliant India rested on unity, mutual respect and a willingness to put national interests above political considerations. He also highlighted Rajiv Gandhi’s efforts to restore peace in Punjab, Assam and Mizoram, strengthen Panchayati Raj institutions, expand women’s participation in local governance and lower the voting age from 21 to 18.

Dr. C. Mallikarjuna, Founder, Managing Director and Chief Consultant Urologist, Asian Institute of Nephrology and Urology, Hyderabad, was felicitated at the function in recognition of his service to society.

Published – 19 October 2026 17:40 IST