india

Updated: May 21, 2019 09:43 IST

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday paid his tributes to former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi, who was assassinated 28 years ago by an LTTE suicide bomber in Tamil Nadu.

“Tributes to former PM Shri Rajiv Gandhi on his death anniversary,” PM Modi tweeted.

Rajiv Gandhi was killed by suicide bomber Dhanu of Sri Lankan rebel group Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) on May 21, 1991, in Sriperumbudur near Chennai during an election rally.

Modi’s has come under criticism for his comments against the Congress leader after he said Rajiv Gandhi’s life ended as “bhrashtachari (corrupt) number 1” and that he used the Indian Navy’s warship INS Viraat as a “personal taxi” for a ten-day vacation with his family.

Rajiv Gandhi’s son and Congress president Rahul Gandhi had responded to the Prime Minister’s “corrupt no 1” remark by saying he was sending his love and hug. His daughter Priyanka Gandhi Vadra had said the people of Amethi will give a befitting reply to Modi.

Opposition leaders had also condemned the statement, saying it was inappropriate of the Prime Minister to make statements about a dead predecessor, who was assassinated by terrorists.