Sonia Gandhi presents 26th Indira Gandhi Award for National Integration

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Congress President and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi today presented the 26th Indira Gandhi Award for National Integration to veteran social activist and former union minister Mohan Dharia. The Prime Minister Manmohan Singh also attended the function.

The 86-year-old Padma Vibhushan awardee, an environmentalist and lawyer who currently runs the Vanrai NGO in Pune, was selected for the 2010 award, which carries a citation and cash prize of Rs. 5 lakh. The award was presented by Congress President Sonia Gandhi today on October 31, the death anniversary of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.

Sonia Gandhi and Manmohan Singh paid floral tribute to Late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. Delivering the welcome address, the Congress President Sonia Gandhi said “This is one of the prestigious awards in the country”.

Remembering Indira Gandhi Sonia Gandhi said that Indira Gandhi always gave importance to the principles she believed than her life. And she sacrificed her life for the nation added Sonia Gandhi. Even her opponents admitted that Indira Gandhi never compromised her principle at any cost, recalled the Congress President. Mohan Dharia is also amongst the persons who always respected and appreciated Indira Gandhi, she said.

Every citizen of our country has the responsibility to work for the national integration and unity reminded Sonia Gandhi. There may be differences in our political thoughts and ideology but the nation is ours and national integration is supreme asserted UPA chairperson. Only because of the persons who considered the nation as the most important factor in their lives, we could achieve freedom added Sonia Gandhi. Mahatma Gandhi and Indira Gandhi had to sacrifice their lives for the country, she remembered. The Indira Gandhi Award is therefore given to the persons who considered national integrity as the foremost thing. Sonia Gandhi also appreciated the services of Mohan Dharia for his sincere and dedicated service for the nation as well as for the society and also emphasized that his efforts strengthened the process of National integration.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh also spoke during the function.