Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy inaugurated the Rajiv Gandhi Sadbhavana Yatra Commemoration held at Charminar and recalled the former Prime Minister’s efforts to uphold national integrity and communal harmony.
The event was attended by Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) president Mahesh Kumar Goud, who unfurled the party flag, along with ministers Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy, Uttam Kumar Reddy, former MP V. Hanumantha Rao, government advisor Mohd. Ali Shabbir, senior Congress leaders Chinna Reddy and former Union Minister Salman Khurshid.
During the programme, Chief Minister Revanth Reddy presented the “Rajiv Gandhi Sadbhavana Award” to former Union Minister Salman Khurshid for his contributions to promoting harmony and national unity.
Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister said that Rajiv Gandhi undertook the Sadbhavana Yatra to protect the unity and integrity of the nation, and the programme was being organized to continue his spirit and ideals. “I congratulate the organisers for honouring Salman Khurshid with the Rajiv Gandhi Sadbhavana Award,” he added.
Mr. Revanth lauded the Gandhi family’s historic sacrifices for the nation, saying, “The word Gandhi has become synonymous with India. The Iron Lady, Indira Gandhi, sacrificed her life for the nation’s integrity, and Rajiv Gandhi followed her path. Three generations of the Gandhi family have given their lives for the country.”
He further said that Salman Khurshid’s association with the Gandhi family spans three generations, and that his family has been working with the Congress leadership for decades. “It is a matter of pride for all of us that Salman Khurshid is receiving the Rajiv Gandhi Sadbhavana Award,” he said.
Highlighting Rajiv Gandhi’s contributions, the Chief Minister reminded that he empowered youth by lowering the voting age to 18 and emphasized the need for a constitutional amendment to allow youth aged 21 to contest in the legislative assemblies.
Drawing a parallel, Mr. Revanth noted that Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra was inspired by the same ideals of unity and peace that Rajiv Gandhi stood for.
Turning to state politics, the Chief Minister accused the BRS of acting as the “B-Team” of the BJP, alleging that the two parties had a secret understanding during the last parliamentary elections, with 21 percent of BRS votes indirectly benefiting the BJP. He further alleged that both parties were plotting similar strategies in the upcoming Jubilee Hills by-election to split the opposition vote.
“The people of Telangana must recognize and reject these conspiracies,” Mr. Revanth asserted, calling for unity to protect the democratic spirit of the State.