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“Rajesh Pilot toiled hard for rural folks”

— Photo: R.V. Moorthy

IN COMMEMORATION: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh releasing the special postage stamp in honour of Rajesh Pilot at Parliament House library in New Delhi. Also seen are UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Communication and IT Minister A. Raja and Rama Pilot, wife of Rajesh Pilot.

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Wednesday paid rich tributes to the former Union Minister, Rajesh Pilot, saying he was an able parliamentarian, who worked relentlessly for the country’s growth and development.

“Rajesh Pilot contributed immensely towards the development of communication and technology sectors in the country and toiled hard for rural folks. As Minister of State for Internal Security in the Narasimha Rao government, he worked tirelessly to bring peace and normalcy in Jammu and Kashmir,” Dr. Singh said at a function organised in the Parliament House complex.

A commemorative postage stamp was released by the Prime Minister on the occasion. It features a colour photograph of Rajesh Pilot and is priced at Rs.5. Dr. Singh recalled the emphasis that Rajesh Pilot laid on the development of a good road network in rural areas as Surface Transport Minister.

“The programmes and schemes being implemented by the Congress-led United Progressive Government for weaker sections of society are a tribute to our former Cabinet colleague.” Dr. Singh asked the family members, followers and friends of Rajesh Pilot, who were present to continue with the good work he started or wanted to do in his lifetime. Congress president Sonia Gandhi, several Union Ministers and senior party leaders were present, The presence of the senior Congress leadership at the function put paid to the rumours that Sachin Pilot, Congress MP from Dausa in Rajasthan and son of Rajesh Pilot, was planning to join the Bharatiya Janata Party.

Communications and Information Technology Minister A. Raja said that during his stint in the Ministry, Rajesh Pilot undertook a series of measures aimed at modernising the communication sector, including inducting state-of-the-art technologies, introducing mobile telephones for the first time in the country and liberalising the STD/ISD and PCO network.

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