Master blaster Sachin Tendulkar, Bollywood actress Kareena Kapoor and film star Sunil Shetty today received the ''Rajiv Gandhi Awards'' for 2005 along with eight other prominent personalities for their outstanding contribution in their respective fields.

 

The other awardees were Marathi actress Mrinal Kulkarni, Videocon chairman Venugopal Dhoot, Biocon CMD Kiran Mazumdar Shaw, Ranbaxy CMD Malvinder Singh, Malayala Monorama editor Mammen Mathew, Lions Club International Ashok Mehta, Lady Shriram College (Delhi) principal Meenakshi Gopinath and NRI Sant Singh Chatwal.

 

Speaking on the occasion, Union Industry and Commerce Minister Kamal Nath said former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi had inspired and shown the youth the ''right path'' for the overall development of the country and hence this award was a befitting tribute to the great leader on the eve of his birth anniversary.

 

''We will never forget our beloved former Prime Minister who made immense contributions to enhance the stature of India in information technology and other fields,'' Mr Kamal Nath observed.

 

Remembering the late leader, Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh said, ''The youth from Maharashtra and the entire country are carrying the torch of Mr Rajiv Gandhi which has enabled us to tackle the unprecedented flood situation in Mumbai and other parts of the state.'' ''This award is a salute to the great soul for his outstanding contribution in every field to heighten India's status in international fora,'' Mr Deshmukh said.

 

AICC General Secretary Margaret Alva, MPCC President Prabha Rau, MRCC President Gurudas Kamat and Mr Rajiv Shukla, MP, were among other eminent personalities who paid tributes to the former Prime Minister on the occasion.

 

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