New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi, the most iconic figure of India's freedom movement, on his birth anniversary. In a post on X, Modi said 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, who was also born on this day.
सभी देशवासियों की ओर से पूज्य बापू को उनकी जन्म-जयंती पर शत-शत नमन। सत्य, सद्भाव और समानता पर आधारित उनका जीवन और आदर्श देशवासियों के लिए सदैव प्रेरणापुंज बना रहेगा।
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 2, 2024
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.
देश के जवान, किसान और स्वाभिमान के लिए अपना जीवन समर्पित करने वाले पूर्व प्रधानमंत्री लाल बहादुर शास्त्री जी को उनकी जयंती पर आदरपूर्ण श्रद्धांजलि।
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 2, 2024
Later, Modi attended a cleanliness drive along with some school students to mark the 10th anniversary of the 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 would strengthen the resolve for a clean India.
President Droupadi Murmu also 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," she said in a post on X. The president, in another post, said Shastri presented highest ideals of simplicity, honesty and patriotism throughout his life.
राष्ट्रपिता महात्मा गांधी की 155वीं जयंती के अवसर पर मैं सभी देशवासियों की ओर से उनको विनम्र श्रद्धांजलि अर्पित करती हूं। pic.twitter.com/97TPrDYQQc
— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) October 2, 2024
"On the birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri, I pay my humble tribute to him," she said.
पूर्व प्रधानमंत्री श्री लाल बहादुर शास्त्री जी की जयंती पर, मैं उनको विनम्र श्रद्धांजलि अर्पित करती हूं। शास्त्री जी ने आजीवन सादगी, ईमानदारी और देशभक्ति के उच्चतम आदर्श प्रस्तुत किए। उनके सुदृढ़ नेतृत्व में भारत ने आर्थिक, सामरिक एवं अन्य सफलताएं प्राप्त की। आइए, उनके जीवन से…
— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) October 2, 2024
"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," Murmu said in the post in Hindi.
