NEW DELHI: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday paid tribute to his father and former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi on his 81st birth anniversary.In a post on X, Rahul Gandhi praised his father’s compassionate nature and described him as a symbol of goodwill. “A India – where every citizen is respected, where there is goodwill, and the country stands strong with democracy and the constitution. Papa, fulfilling this dream you envisioned is my life’s goal.”Priyanka Gandhi also remembered her father, saying, “From you, we inherited the values of compassion, love, and patriotism. Both of us will forever uphold these values. No one will be able to break them, no one will be able to stop them, nor will our steps ever falter.”The All India Congress Committee organised a commemorative programme at Rajiv Gandhi’s memorial, Vir Bhumi, where Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, K C Venugopal and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra were present.Kharge said, “Today, as we observe Sadbhavana Diwas, we remember Rajiv Gandhi, a remarkable leader who inspired hope in millions and propelled India into the 21st century.”He added that Rajiv Gandhi’s innumerable achievements brought transformative changes in the country. “We pay our deepest respects to him on his birth anniversary,” he said in a post.Rajiv Gandhi took charge of the Congress in 1984 following the assassination of his mother and then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. He became the country’s youngest Prime Minister at the age of 40, assuming office in October 1984, and served until December 2, 1989.Born on August 20, 1944, Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated on May 21, 1991, by a Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) suicide bomber during an election rally in Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu.During his tenure, India saw the beginning of economic modernisation, with a strong push for technology, telecommunications, and education reforms.