Many of us know late Indira Gandhi as the only strong-headed female leader in India.
But, it was Congress veteran leader late Sheila Dixit, who governed the National Capital -Delhi as Chief Minister for more than 15 years, making her India’s longest-serving female CM of any state till date.
On her second death anniversary, tributes from across nation and party lines poured in for the architect of modern Delhi.
Born on, 31 March 1938 in a Punjabi family, Dixit began her mainstream political career as Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs in late PM Rajiv Gandhi’s Cabinet (1984-1989).
Dixit grabbed eyeballs when said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was stronger than former PM Manmohan Singh in dealing with terrorism.
During March 2019, the political temperature in Delhi was rising as the Lok Sabha general elections were inching close.
Dixit, who was serving as Delhi Congress Chief, in an interview, said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was stronger compared to former PM Manmohan Singh in dealing with terrorism.
The Indian armed forces had just retaliated against Pakistan in response to the Pulwama attack.
During that time PM Modi’s actions were being compared to PM Singh’s, which he took in dealing with the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack.
It has to be agreed that Manmohan Singh was not as strong and determined in dealing with terrorism as the current prime minister is, said Dixit.
However, she also said that dealing with terrorising was just PM Modi’s ?political stunt.
Dixit was loved and respected beyond party lines. It is also said that she was Rajiv Gandhi’s close confidant.
She had spent more than four decades of her life in public service and was a firm believer of ?individualism.
Awarded as Best Chief Minister of India, by Journalist Association of India in 2008, Dixit passed away on 20 July 2019, at 81 due to heart failure.