To mark 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, Congress president Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and other party leaders on Wednesday paid tributes to the leader at their 'samadhi'.
Rahul Gandhi led the Congress padyatra, preceded by a tableau of Mahatma Gandhi's Sabarmati Ashram and his iconic wooden spinning wheel mounted on a vehicle. Many Congress workers sported Gandhi's trademark spectacles. The Congress workers also chanted the slogan "Mahatma Gandhi Amar Rahein".
Rahul Gandhi said that the Father of the Nation showed that love for all living beings and non-violence is the only way to defeat bigotry and hatred. "On his 150th Jayanti, my tributes to Mahatma Gandhi Ji, the 'Father of the Nation', who through his words & deeds, showed us that love for all living beings & non violence is the only way to defeat oppression, bigotry & hatred.," he tweeted.
Several other top Congress leaders such as Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, Rajasthan Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot, Jyotiraditya Scindia, Sushmita Dev and Meira Kumar paid homage to Mahatma Gandhi. The Congress president and former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh were among those who paid floral tributes to the father of the nation.
The Congress will celebrate Mahatma Gandhi's 150th birth anniversary by organising 'padayatras' across the country, with party leader Rahul Gandhi joining the foot march in the national capital.
Sonia Gandhi said that Mahatma Gandhi not only influenced the Indians but also the whole world with his non-violent and satyagraha methods. "When not only Indians, but the whole world is celebrating the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, we should realize that India has reached where it has only because we followed the path of Mahatma Gandhi," she said.
Taking a swipe at the BJP, she said that those who are trying to use Gandhi's name and taking India astray from his teachings to take their own way will not succeed as India has Gandhi's principles in its foundation.