The Nation pays homage to the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi on his 150th birth anniversary today. A series of functions have been organized across the country and by Indian Missions abroad.

President Ram Nath Kovind, Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Home Minister Amit Shah and several Union Ministers, BJP and opposition leaders paid floral tributes to Mahatma Gandhi at his Samadhi Rajghat.

Prime Minister paid tribute to the Father of Nation at the Raj Ghat. Mr Modi stayed for some time at the Raj Ghat where an all-faith prayer meeting was held this morning. In a tweet, Prime Minister expressed gratitude to Mahatma Gandhi for his everlasting contribution to humanity. Mr Modi also said we pledge to continue working hard to realise his dreams and create a better planet.

In a short video on Mahatma Gandhi, Mr Modi said his message of peace is still relevant to the world community. The prime minister also referred to the seven perversions Mahatma Gandhi had cautioned people about. These are:  wealth without work, pleasure without conscience, knowledge without character, visit without ethics, science without humanity, religion without sacrifice and politics without principles.

Prime Minister Modi, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi, BJP veteran Lal Krishna Advani, Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad and others paid tributes to Mahatma Gandhi at the Central Hall of Parliament.

BJP President Amit Shah flagged off party’s nationwide Gandhi Sankalp Yatra this morning from Shalimar Bagh in New Delhi to mark 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. Speaking on the occasion, Mr Shah said, Gandhi ji showed the path of truth and non-violence to the world and his satyagraha movement brought the British to their knees. He urged people to take a pledge not to use single-use plastic from today as it is very harmful to the environment and health. The BJP president said, party workers across the country will travel 150 kilometre from today to 31st October to spread the values of Gandhiji to the masses. They will work to spread the values of Swadesh, Swadharma and Swadeshi to every village and every household.

Union Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju flagged off ‘Fit India Plog run at Indira Gandhi stadium in New Delhi to mark Gandhi Jayanti. Member of Parliament and Singer Manoj Tiwari, Wrestler Bajrang Punia, Poet Ashok Chakradhar among others were present on the occasion. Plogging as a concept brings together fitness and cleanliness as participants pick up plastic and other waste from the road while jogging. The run is being organised at over two thousand places all over the country including 225 places in the national capital.

In the evening, the Prime Minister will visit Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad. Mr Modi will also go to the Sabarmati riverfront where he will declare the country open defecation-free in the presence of over 20,000 village heads. Apart from launching a book titled ‘My Life is My Message’, Mr Modi will also release commemorative postal stamps and coins to mark 150th Birth Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.