Cong to hold series of events to mark Indira's death anniversary

An exhibition on the life and times of Indira Gandhi, national integration rallies across the country, blood donation camps and the screening of a short film -- Congress has planned a series of events to mark the 25th death anniversary of the former prime minister.

"People remember her indomitable courage, taking up the cause of the underprivileged, tremendous contribution as prime minister and leader of the Congress and in ensuring social justice and greater national integration," party spokesperson Jayanthi Natarajan told reporters here. She said Congress rededicates itself to her vision, ideals and commitment to the welfare of disadvantaged sections of the society.

The AICC has organised a series of functions to commemorate the occasion. In every block, district and state of the country, the party has asked its office-bearers to observe a two-minute silence at 9.20 am, the time when Gandhi was assassinated.

It would be followed by a blood donation camp and a seminar and symposium on national integration at the district and state level. Rallies on national integration titled "All of us are one" will also be taken out.

In Delhi, the party would have three programmes -- at Shakti Sthal, the place where Gandhi was cremated, at 1 Safdarjung Road Road where she was assassinated and the Indira Gandhi Award function for national integration.  Party President Sonia Gandhi and top Congress leaders would attend all the three functions to be held in the national capital.

An exhibition on the life and times of Indira Gandhi has been organised here in which rare photographs and literature would be displayed. A feature of the two-day exhibition, to be held on October 31 and November one, will be a 42-minute film on Gandhi, who was killed by her own security guards on October 31, 1984.