New Delhi, May 21: Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, and Congress National President Mallikarjun Kharge on Wednesday paid heartfelt tributes to former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi on the occasion of his 34th death anniversary.

Both leaders arrived at Veer Bhumi in New Delhi to offer their solemn respects to the late Prime Minister.

Rajiv Gandhi, who served as India’s Prime Minister from 1984 to 1989, assumed office following the assassination of his mother, then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. At the age of 40, he became the youngest Prime Minister in Indian history.

Rajiv Gandhi led the country until the 1989 general elections, after which he served as the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha. He resigned in December 1990, just six months before he was assassinated in a brutal terrorist attack.

Marking the occasion, the Congress party shared a tribute on X, stating, “On the death anniversary of the late Shri Rajiv Gandhi, the leader of opposition, Rahul Gandhi visited ‘Veer Bhumi’ and paid his emotional tribute to him. The excellent work done by Rajiv Gandhi in the national interest can never be forgotten.”

Earlier in the day, Mallikarjun Kharge also paid homage to the former leader through a post on X, calling Rajiv Gandhi “a great son of India” who inspired hope among millions.

He wrote, “His visionary and courageous interventions were instrumental in preparing India for the challenges and opportunities of the 21st Century.”

Kharge highlighted some of Rajiv Gandhi’s key contributions to India, stating, “These include lowering the voting age to 18, strengthening Panchayati Raj, spearheading the Telecom and IT revolution, implementing a computerisation program, securing sustained peace accords, launching a universal immunisation program, and introducing a new education policy focused on inclusive learning.”

He concluded his tribute stating, “Our deepest respects to the Former PM, Bharat Ratna, Rajiv Gandhi on his martyrdom day.”

Several other Congress leaders also visited Veer Bhumi to pay their respects.

Congress leader Pawan Khera, speaking to Media, said, “The inspiration this family has given us to shed blood for the country is priceless. It feels like the nation was unfortunate to have lost Rajiv Gandhi at such a young age. Had he been with us today, the history of this country would have been very different and much better.”

Congress veteran Sushil Kumar Shinde also paid homage and told Media, “Whenever we come here, we pay our respects at Veer Bhumi. The contributions Rajiv Gandhi made to our country, especially during this transformative era, will never be forgotten by this nation. What he did for our country is something the nation will always remember.”

Mumbai, May 21: Shiv Sena(UBT) on Wednesday slammed the BJP and Shiv Sena over the induction of veteran NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal into the council of ministers, saying that those who strongly criticised him in the past will now have to swallow their criticism and sit with him in the cabinet.

“Bhujbal, who once fought for the identity of Maharashtra, faced imprisonment, and raised the issues of Marathi people with great enthusiasm, had to join the herd of Maharashtra opposition (Mahayuti) and take the mantle of minister in the last phase of his life. This can be called his tragedy. Bhujbal’s entry into the cabinet was a tragedy not only for him but for many others. Fadnavis, Eknath Mindhe (Shinde) had a political rivalry with Bhujbal. They had openly expressed their opposition to Bhujbal’s entry into the cabinet. However, Bhujbal has got the ministerial berth and now they (Fadnavis and Shinde) will have no option but to sit with him,” remarked Shiv Sena(UBT) in its mouthpiece Saamana editorial.

“A very testing moment has come in Deputy Chief Minister Mindhe’s (Shinde) life, and he should go to his party chief Amit Shah’s door and complain about it. Devendra Fadnavis has included Chhagan Bhujbal in the cabinet, and Eknath Mindhe will have to sit on Bhujbal’s lap from now on.” Shiv Sena(UBT) has reminded Deputy CM Shinde that he used to question the former chief minister, Uddhav Thackeray, why it did not hurt him when he was sharing cabinet meetings with Bhujbal, who had arrested Hindu Hruday Samrat Shiv Sena chief Balasaheb Thackeray. How does he (Uddhav Thackeray) not feel ashamed about it? Among the reasons given by Mindhe (Shinde) and others for leaving Shiv Sena and accepting Amit Shah’s leadership, one of them was that it would not be possible for them to sit on Bhujbal’s lap,” said the Thackeray camp.

The Thackeray camp has stepped up the attack against Dy CM Shinde, saying that he had announced that he would not stand with those who arrested the former Shiv Sena chief. “Now Amit Shah and Fadnavis have put Mindhe (Shinde) in such a dilemma that if he has true loyalty to the Shiv Sena chief, then resign, otherwise, he will have no option but to sit with Bhujbal in the cabinet. Shinde-Mindhe not only attended Bhujbal’s oath-taking ceremony but also felicitated him by giving him a bouquet. Bhujbal’s entry into the cabinet is a warning to Mindhe and his people,” claims the editorial.

“When Bhujbal was not initially included in the cabinet, he made a big fuss. He said that this injustice was done to the OBC community. He had warned that he would not remain silent now, but raise his voice against the injustice done to him. However, Bhujbal (after not getting the ministerial berth in the cabinet expansion that took place on December 15 last year) remained silent on the advice of Fadnavis,” said the editorial.

“Fadnavis used to deliberately mention that Bhujbal has not been acquitted (in the money laundering case) but has only been released on bail. However, today the picture is that both leaders, Bhujbal and Ajit Pawar, are in Fadnavis’ cabinet. BJP people are strengthening the foundation of corruption by rubbing ‘Devendra Ratan’ oil on their thighs,” said the editorial.

“They (BJP) would accuse someone of corruption, send him to jail, and say that they would never sit with them… It is the business of the Bharatiya Janata Party to fool people by taking them into the party for power. Fadnavis and Mindhe were so disgusted with Ajit Pawar and Bhujbal, but it must be said that time has taken a terrible revenge on both of them. Bhujbal was accused by the Enforcement Directorate of money laundering. BJP leader Kirit Somaiya levelled a series of allegations against Bhujbal. Of course, Fadnavis and others were the ones who inspired Kirit Somaiya to make such accusations and harass Bhujbal. Now, the same corrupt Kirit Somaiya will be seen with Bhujbal,” said the Thackeray camp.

“Gulab Patil (cabinet minister) from the Mindhe group and legislator Suhas Kande from Nandgaon had even launched a campaign against Bhujbal. Gulab Patil in public meetings had alleged that Bhujbal is Asaram. Now, people like Mindhe and others will have to worship the shoes of Asaram in the cabinet. Bhujbal has held the post of Guardian Minister of Nashik for many years. His administrative experience is immense. Fadnavis is his present guide. From now on, Bhujbal will not follow the orders of Ajit Pawar, but of Fadnavis, and his leader will be Amit Shah,” said the editorial.

New Delhi, May 20: After Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s recent social media posts seeking information on Operation Sindoor went viral in Pakistan, the BJP leaders have launched a scathing attack on him.

Assam cabinet minister Ashok Singhal on Tuesday accused Rahul Gandhi of following an agenda synonymous with that of Pakistan.

In a striking social media post, the Assam Minister of Health, Family Welfare and Irrigation Department said that Rahul Gandhi and Pakistan Army chief General Syed Asim Munir are divided by the border, but are united by an agenda.

Singhal shared a juxtaposed picture of Munir and Gandhi on his X handle — clean-shaven Munir in military uniform and a bearded Gandhi in a white T-shirt. The caption reads “One Agenda”.

This comes after Rahul Gandhi’s social media posts seeking information on Operation Sindoor and raising questions gained a lot of traction in Pakistan.

For the past few days, Rahul Gandhi has been targeting External Affairs Minister Dr S. Jaishankar, claiming that the Centre “informed Pakistan at the start” of Operation Sindoor. Gandhi has said that this was not a “lapse”, but a “crime”.

On Saturday, Gandhi shared a video of EAM Jaishankar interacting with the media on his X handle and raised questions — “Informing Pakistan at the start of our attack was a crime. EAM has publicly admitted that GOI did it. Who authorised it? How many aircraft did our airforce lose as a result?”

Gandhi reposted the video on Monday, saying the External Affairs Minister’s “silence isn’t just telling – it’s damning”. “So I’ll ask again: How many Indian aircraft did we lose because Pakistan knew? This wasn’t a lapse. It was a crime. And the nation deserves the truth.”

Soon after the Congress leader wrote on his X handle, the post went viral in Pakistan, and their leaders started quoting him while attacking India’s claims on Operation Sindoor. Since Rahul Gandhi’s posts, he has been widely discussed on Pakistani TV channels.

Although the Ministry of External Affairs clarified the EAM’s remarks, Rahul Gandhi has stuck to his statement.

The MEA issued a statement. “The External Affairs Minister had stated that we had warned Pakistan at the start, which is clearly the early phase after Op Sindoor’s commencement. This is being falsely represented as being before the commencement. This utter misrepresentation of facts is being called out.”

On Monday, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri briefed a parliamentary committee on the India-Pakistan military conflict in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack. Misri reportedly reiterated the government’s position that the decision to halt military actions was made at a bilateral level, rejecting US President Donald Trump’s claims about his role in de-escalating the conflict.

The BJP has called Rahul Gandhi’s remarks “an utter misrepresentation of facts”. The BJP has said the Leader of Opposition’s misrepresentation of the minister’s remarks “reeks of mala fide intent” and also has questioned the timing of this charge.