New Delhi, Oct 2: President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday paid floral tributes to Mahatma Gandhi and former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri on their birth anniversaries at Rajghat.
PM Modi reaffirmed his government’s commitment to Gandhi’s ideals, saying Gandhi Jayanti is about honouring “the extraordinary life of Bapu, whose courage and simplicity became instruments of great change.” He stressed that Gandhi’s belief in service and compassion continues to guide the nation’s path toward development.
Remembering Shastri, Modi hailed him as an “extraordinary statesman” whose integrity and leadership strengthened India. He recalled Shastri’s iconic call of “Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan,” saying it continues to inspire efforts to build a strong and self-reliant nation.
Linking both leaders’ legacies to his swadeshi campaign, the Prime Minister urged citizens to buy Indian-made products as a true tribute to Gandhi and Shastri, adding that swadeshi forms the foundation of a self-reliant India.
This year marks the 156th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, revered as the Father of the Nation for leading India’s freedom movement through truth and non-violence. Lal Bahadur Shastri, born in 1904, served as the second Prime Minister and earned nationwide respect for his humility and decisive leadership during the 1965 war with Pakistan.(Agencies)
