Thursday, March 10 2005 14:05 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Leading lights of Indian politics today (Mar 10, 2005) paid rich tributes to late Madhavrao Scindia on his 60th birth anniversary with Congress president and United Progressive Alliance (UPA) chairperson Sonia Gandhi saying that he "epitomised" best of our politics and worked for secular polity in India.

Speaking at a function to release a commemorative postage stamp on the occasion of 60th birth anniversary of Scindia, who died in a plane crash in 2001, Gandhi said, "In spite of his privileged background, he took to the rough and tumble of Indian politics seeking to improve the condition of his constituents and his passion was rapid modernisation of India."

Describing him as an active Parliamentarian, Gandhi said, "Madhav Rao Scindia epitomised the best of Indian politics and nobility of our culture. This stamp is a token of appreciation to his numerous achievements and contributions."

Earlier, Union IT and Communications Minister Dayanidhi Maran released commemorative postage stamp on the late Congress leader and former Cabinet Minister at a function, attended by Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee, HRD Minister Arjun Singh, Finance Minister P Chidambaram, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) General Secretary Arun Jaitley along with a number of Union Ministers and Congress leaders.

Scindia's son and Congress MP Jyotiraditya, wife Madhvi Raje and other family members were also present at the emotional function.

Gandhi said, as Railway Minister, Scindia made Railways as the engine of growth and introduced the computerised reservations systems and added, "His untimely death was a loss of a close associate whose counsel I sought and valued."

Paying tributes, Maran said that with an outlook both liberal and modern Scindia's days in public life were marked by his inner drive to contribute to the country's development and sheer hard work.

During a political career spanning 30 years, Scindia held key portfolios like Railways, Civil aviation and HRD. He was also the deputy leader of Opposition in Parliament and president of Board of Control for Cricket in India during 1990-93.

Scindia was one of the few Parliamentarians who had to his credit of winning nine Parliamentary elections.

The stamp released today is in the denomination of Rs 5.