The grateful nation on Sunday paid rich and homage to the father of the nation Mahatma Gandhi on his 142nd birth anniversary.
The main function was held at the Samadhi of Bapu at Rajghat in New Delhi.Vice President Mohammad Hamid Ansari, Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, UPA Chirperson Sonia Gandhi, Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar, senior cabinet ministers and leaders from other parties offered floral tributes to the Mahatma.President Pratibha Devi Singh Patil who is on a visit to Switzerland, will pay homage to Bapu in Geneva. The day is also being observed as International non-violence day.
UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi made her first public appearance after her surgery.Tributes were paid to the Father of the National across the country.The Sabarmati Ashram on Sunday immersed in the Gandhian tradition with prayer meeting was held on the occasion.
In Hyderabad, a special prayer meeting was held in Bapu Dham to remember Gandhiji. Andhra Pradesh Governor ESL Narsimhan and Andhara Pradesh Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy and a host of other leaders paid floral tributes and remembered the father of the nation.
In Mumbai also, floral tributes were paid to the Father of the Nation with Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithiviraj Chavan present.In Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh Governor BL Joshi and Chief Minister Mayawati paid their tribute to Mahatma Gandhi and took part in the all-religion prayer meeting. School-children presented some of the favourite songs of Gandhiji.
In Chennai, Tamil Nadu Governor K Rosiah and Chief Minister Jayalalitha garlanded the statue of the Father of the Nation located in Marina beach.The scenic state of Goa was also immersed in the Gandhian tradition with Chief Minister Digambar Kamat garlanding the statue of Bapu in Panaji along with his cabinet colleagues.
The nation also paid rich tributes to the former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri on his 107th birth anniversary.
Vice President Mohammad Hamid Ansari, Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj besides other eminent personalities paid floral tributes to the former Prime Minister.
In Goa’s Panji, floral tributes were paid at the portrait of Lal Bahadur Shastri.