New Delhi: Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Thursday said that given the youth ferment across the country, it is important to recall that it was Rajiv Gandhi who, as the prime minister, gave the 18-year-olds the right to vote by reducing the minimum voting age and led India decisively into the IT era.
Ramesh also recalled that Gandhi declared January 12 as the National Youth Day, produced the New Education Policy of 1988 and set up the Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan covering all districts.
"Today as we celebrate his 82nd birth anniversary and given the youth ferment across the country it is important to recall that it was Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi who gave 18 year olds the right to vote by reducing the minimum voting age from 21 years by amending the Constitution," Ramesh said.
He said Gandhi declared Jan 12, which is Swami Vivekananda's birthday, as the National Youth Day.
Gandhi, as the prime minister , produced the New Education Policy of 1988 that, among many other innovations, established the nation-wide network of Navodaya Vidyalayas, Ramesh recalled.
Gandhi set up the Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan covering all districts, the Congress general secretary in-charge communications said.
Gandhi led India decisively into the IT era, creating millions of new employment opportunities, Ramesh added.
The former prime minister was born on August 20, 1944 and died on May 21, 1991. He was the prime minister of India from October 31, 1984 to December 2, 1989.
The Congress paid rich tributes to former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi on his 82nd birth anniversary.
