President Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Narendra Modi today joined over a billion Indians in paying tribute to Mahatma Gandhi on his 147th birth anniversary.
Modi, who joined many leaders at Bapu's memorial here to pay floral tributes to him, said in a tweet, “Gandhiji made this world a better place. His ideals, dedication to the poor & struggle against injustice inspire.”
Clad in a white kurta and pyjama, Modi, who arrived at 7:40 AM, paid homage to the Mahatma by offering rose petals at his memorial and performing a 'parikrama' (circumambulation) around it.
President, who led the country in paying homage to the "Father of the Nation", said in a tweet, “Let us pay tribute to Gandhiji by keeping alive in our hearts & minds the principles of tolerance & non-violence.”
Vice President Hamid Ansari, former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and senior BJP leader L K Advani also paid tributes to the Father of the Nation.
Union Ministers M Venkaiah Naidu and Rao Inderjit Singh, and Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad too joined in paying homage to the Father of the Nation.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who arrived along with his deputy Manish Sisodia, also paid tributes to the Mahatma on his birth anniversary.
Ambassadors of several countries and other dignitaries attended the function. A large number of school children had also gathered at the venue to pay homage.
An all-faith prayer meeting was held on the occasion.
