New Delhi: President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and other leaders paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi on Friday as the country observed his 157th birth anniversary.
President Murmu and Prime Minister Modi were among those who paid homage to Gandhi at Rajghat in New Delhi. Rahul Gandhi and Kharge also reached Gandhi’s memorial and attended the Sarva-Dharma Prarthana.
In a message on Gandhi Jayanti, President Murmu said Gandhi’s message of peace and non-violence had become even more relevant amid conflicts in different parts of the world. She also highlighted the values of empathy and inclusion associated with Gandhi’s vision of Sarvodaya.
Prime Minister Modi said Gandhi’s life continued to guide humanity through his message of truth, non-violence, compassion and service. He also shared a video message recalling Gandhi’s global influence and said his ideals would continue to guide the country towards a better society and Viksit Bharat.
Modi, Rahul Gandhi and other leaders also paid tribute to former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri on his birth anniversary.
Modi remembered Shastri’s simplicity and dedication to the nation and recalled his famous slogan, “Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan”. Vice President C P Radhakrishnan also paid floral tributes to Shastri at Vijay Ghat.
Rahul Gandhi and Kharge paid tribute to Gandhi at Rajghat and attended the prayer ceremony.
Kharge recalled Gandhi’s contribution to India’s freedom struggle and his message of truth, non-violence, harmony and justice. Congress general secretary K C Venugopal also remembered Gandhi’s commitment to truth and non-violence, saying it provided India with a “moral compass” during the freedom struggle.
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav also paid tribute to Gandhi on his birth anniversary.
Gandhi Jayanti was observed with events and cleanliness drives across the country.
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, Lieutenant Governor Taranjit Singh Sandhu, Union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar and Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla paid floral tributes to Gandhi at Rajghat.
Union Health Minister J P Nadda participated in a cleanliness drive near Kartavya Bhawan-1 in New Delhi. In Gurugram, Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini participated in the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan and appealed to people to maintain cleanliness.
In Vijayawada, a Swachhathon 2026 event was organised as part of the Swachhata Hi Seva programme. In Puri, Odisha, students at the Sand Art Institute founded by Padma Shri Sudarsan Pattnaik created a sand animation to mark Gandhi Jayanti.
Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma also paid tribute to Gandhi and Shastri at the Rajasthan Secretariat in Jaipur.
(With inputs from ANI)