Hyderabad: TPCC president and MLC Mahesh Kumar Goud, speaking in Somajiguda on Wednesday, paid heartfelt tribute to former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, calling him the man who helped lay the groundwork for the India we see today.
“He wasn’t just a leader,” Goud said, “he was someone who could see the future before the rest of us caught up.” He spoke about how Gandhi’s belief in youth and technology wasn’t just talk it shaped real policy, real change.
Goud shared how Rajiv Gandhi earned global respect, even being recognised at the United Nations for standing up for peace, freedom, and equality. “These weren’t just ideals,” he said. “They were tools for building a better, more just world.”
He credited Gandhi with kickstarting India’s journey into the digital age. “Think about it mobile phones, internet, tech in our pockets. It all started with his vision,” Goud said.
He also pointed out how Gandhi brought more young voices into democracy by lowering the voting age from 21 to 18. “Millions got a say in their future because of that one bold decision,” he noted.
Taking a moment to honour former PCC chief Hanumanthu Rao, a close confidant of Gandhi’s, Goud reflected on their deep bond and the legacy they left behind. “Many of us in leadership today were mentored in their time,” he said.
Goud also announced that the Telangana government will install a Rajiv Gandhi statue at the Secretariat as a lasting tribute.
And in a move inspired by Gandhi’s belief in youth power, the state is rolling out the ‘Rajiv Yuva Vikasam’ scheme to support young people in becoming self-employed. “We’re not just remembering him we’re continuing his mission,” Goud said.
