President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress leaders including its president Malliarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday paid tributes to Mahatma Gandhi and India’s second prime minister Lal Bahadur Shastri on their birth anniversary.
“On behalf of all citizens, I pay my humble tribute to the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi on his 155th birth anniversary,” President Murmu said in a social media post.
In another post, she said Shastri presented highest ideals of simplicity, honesty and patriotism throughout his life. “On the birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri, I pay my humble tribute to him,” she said.
“Shastri ji presented the highest ideals of simplicity, honesty and patriotism throughout his life. Under his strong leadership, India achieved economic, strategic and other successes. Let us take inspiration from his life and pledge to build a strong India,” President Murmu said in the post in Hindi.
In his tributes, Prime Minister Modi said in a social media post the revered Bapu’s life and ideals based on truth, harmony and equality would always be an inspiration for the country’s people.
Gandhi, hailed as the father of the nation, steadfastly followed the principles of truth and non-violence, inspiring generations of politicians and activists around the world.
Modi also paid homage to India’s second prime minister Lal Bahadur Shastri. He dedicated his life to the country’s soldiers, farmers and pride, Modi said of Shastri, who raised the slogan of “Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan” and whose simplicity and honesty earned him wide respect.
The prime minister joined President Droupadi Murmu and several other dignitaries in visiting the memorials of Gandhi and Shastri in the national capital this morning to pay homage to them.
Later, Modi attended a cleanliness drive along with some school students to mark the 10th anniversary of Swachhata Bharat campaign, which was launched in 2014 on the birth anniversary of Gandhi, who put a great emphasis on cleanliness all his life. The prime minister urged everyone to be part of such a drive in their surroundings, saying such an initiative will strengthen the resolve for a clean India.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and former party chief Rahul Gandhi paid rich tributes to Mahatma Gandhi. While Rahul Gandhi said the Mahatma was not just an individual but a way of living and thinking, Kharge said they are following his ideas as they are being challenged today. “Bapu has taught me that if we want to live, we should live without fear - we should walk on the path of truth, love, compassion and harmony while uniting everyone,” Rahul Gandhi said.
“Gandhi ji was not just an individual, he was a way of living and thinking,” the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha said in a post in Hindi. He also paid floral tributes at Mahatma Gandhi’s memorial at Rajghat in the morning.
Former Congress chief Sonia Gandhi and Kharge also attended a function in the central hall of Parliament where they paid floral tributes to Mahatma Gandhi.
Speaker Om Birla and other BJP leaders, including union minister and BJP President J P Nadda, were present at the function.
Kharge said the thoughts and ideals of Mahatma Gandhi, the Father of the Nation, who showed the path of peace to the entire world with the highest values of truth, non-violence and satyagraha, the architect of the Indian freedom struggle, are always inspiring for us.
“Today, we are facing the challenge to his ideas by following the principles of Bapu. Best wishes to all the countrymen on Gandhi Jayanti,” Kharge said in a social media post.
The Congress also remembered former prime minister Lal Bahadur Shastri on his birth anniversary and former Congress leader K Kamaraj on his death anniversary.
Rahul Gandhi said Shastri will be remembered for his simplicity and Kamaraj for his humility, dedication, and visionary policies for the upliftment of the marginalised and the empowerment of the underprivileged.
Congress leader K C Venugopal and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also paid tributes to Mahatma Gandhi. “Bapu’s life and his teachings serve as our lodestar today more than ever. At a time when the forces of hatred, lies and violence are trying their best to destroy India, the message of Satya and Ahimsa is our guiding principle. This Gandhi Jayanti, we renew our pledge to walk in his footsteps,” Venugopal said in a social media post.
