Cong plans several events in Amethi to mark Rajiv Gandhi's birth anniversary

The Congress in Uttar Pradesh's Amethi parliamentary constituency, which former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi had represented four times, will organise a number of programmes on his birth anniversary tomorrow.

The party will organise a half-marathon, competitive events for school students, a presentation of folk song Alha, and honour senior party leaders and others, said Yogendra Mishra, president of the Amethi district Congress committee; and Chandra Kant Dubey, representative of Amethi MP and party president Rahul Gandhi.

Tributes will also be paid to the former prime minister by leaders and workers at the party office in Lucknow, a statement issued by the UP Congress said today.

The Congress has also decided to collect photographs of Rajiv Gandhi from Amethi residents to mark the day, and will organise a week-long exhibition titled 'Hamare Rajiv (Ours Rajiv)' at the party office in Gauriganj, the district headquarters.

Party activist Jagdish Piyush said Rajiv Gandhi was one of the most humble and simple politician whom the people of Amethi called "Bhaiya".

Rajiv Gandhi was born on August 20 in 1944. He represented Amethi in Parliament in 1981, 1984, 1989 and 1991.