The ideology and achievements of the former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and the former Chief Minister D. Devaraj Urs were remembered across the district on Saturday.
While the Mandya district administration remembered the late Chief Minister through public functions on his 101st birth anniversary, the Congress party paid tribute to Rajiv Gandhi on his 72nd birth anniversary across the district.
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H.C. Bore Gowda, president, Mandya City Municipal Council (CMC), inaugurated the Urs birth anniversary celebrations at Sri Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar Kala Mandir in the town. He recalled some significant measures adopted by Mr. Urs, including the implementation of Havanur committee report, abolishing of the bonded labour system and granting of land to poor farmers.
MLA K.S. Puttannaiah, Mandya Zilla Panchayat president G. Premakumari, Mandya Taluk Panchayat president Beerappa, Assistant Commissioner Arul Kumar, district social welfare officer B. Malathi and others were present. They described Urs as a crusader who strove to uplift the poor and neglected communities in the society.
Earlier, a portrait of the late Chief Minister was taken out in a procession from the Deputy Commissioner’s office to the programme venue.
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Remembering
Rajiv Gandhi
“Both Urs and Rajiv Gandhi were great leaders and ensured that social justice reached everyone effectively,” the former minister M.S. Atmanada said at the event.
Addressing the gathering at the Congress party office here, after paying tribute to both Devaraj Urs and Rajiv Gandhi, Mr. Atmananda said that the former Prime Minister was responsible for ensuring that youngsters enjoyed voting rights, while Urs implemented a series of schemes for the uplift of the poor.
According to reports, similar programmes were also organised at taluk and hobli centres across the district.